Once again, the politics of Nithi Bridge played out during President William Ruto’s tour of Meru County on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

Speaking during an event at Burieruri Boys, Meru Governor Isaac M’Ethingia Mutuma praised Ruto as one of the best presidents, basing his remarks on what he said the Head of State had done towards addressing the deadly Nithi Bridge.

Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma on Nithi Bridge

Mutuma told Ruto that the Nithi Bridge tragedy did not begin during his presidency, but argued that he was the first president to show serious concern for residents of Meru, Isiolo and North Eastern who use the route.

“Jambo ambalo umefanya ambalo halijawahi kufanywa na rais mwingine. Nithi Bridge. Nithi Bridge haijazaliwa ukiwa rais na imeua watu wengi sana,” Mutuma said.

“Your H.E wewe ndiye rais wa kwanza kuwa na huruma na Wameru, watu wa Isiolo, na huruma ya watu wa North Eastern. Wewe ndiye umekuja ukasema vifo visimame Your H.E.”

The governor further claimed that Ruto had committed Ksh7 billion towards the bridge, saying the move had endeared him to residents.

“Nithi Bridge, Your Excellency, umeweka Ksh7B. Ni jambo ambalo hakuna rais amewahi fanya. Na ndio maana hatukupendi bure H.E,” he added.

However, by the time of publication, this writer could not independently verify Mutuma’s claim that construction had already started or that the Ksh7 billion allocation had been formally committed in official project documents.

Deadly bridge

Nithi Bridge, on the Meru-Embu road in Tharaka Nithi County, has for decades carried a frightening reputation among motorists and passengers.

A little research conducted by this writer noted that the bridge has remained a notorious black spot since the road section was commissioned in 1985.

Among the worst tragedies recorded at the bridge was the August 25, 2000, accident, when a Tawfiq bus travelling from Maua to Mombasa plunged into the Nithi River. At least 45 people were reported dead, while several others were rushed to the hospital.

The same report noted that international media at the time quoted a Kenyan newspaper saying the disaster had pushed the number of deaths at the bridge to at least 158 in five years.

In August 2020, one person died and nine others were injured in a multiple-vehicle accident after a Tharaka Nithi County fire engine reportedly lost control and hit people who had gathered to rescue a bodaboda rider.

In July 2022, the Modern Coast bus tragedy again put Nithi Bridge at the centre of national attention after the bus hit a Nissan X-Trail and plunged about 40 metres into the river.

On April 7, 2024, four people died, and several others were injured after a Kensilver bus lost control while descending the slope near the same black spot between Chogoria and Chuka towns.

People Daily also reported that another accident in September 2024 claimed 12 lives after a Toyota Hiace and a Toyota Hilux were involved in a head-on collision near the infamous bridge.

Ruto’s promises on Nithi Bridge

The Nithi Bridge issue has followed Ruto since the 2022 campaigns.

People Daily reported that while campaigning in Chuka sub-county, Ruto promised to prioritise rebuilding the bridge and assured residents that fixing it would be among his early priorities in office.

In 2023, the president again said his administration had set aside funds to redesign the road and stop deaths at the black spot.

“Following my meeting with local leaders yesterday, I have already directed the minister in charge of Transport to meet your governor immediately to decide whether to use the survey conducted some time back or we come up with a new one,” Ruto was quoted as saying.

“We have already set aside funds towards the redesign of the road to stop people from dying at the spot.”

Soon after, the then Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, now Interior CS, met Tharaka Nithi leaders and said the government had started the process of preventing further loss of lives at the bridge.

Murkomen said engineers would redesign sharp corners, dual sections between Marima and Mitheru markets, and install speed bumps as part of the plan.

On April 28, 2023, Ruto again spoke about Nithi Bridge during a church event in Tharaka Nithi, saying money for changing the bridge and the road would be included in that year’s budget plans.

“Mambo ya Nithi Bridge. Na tulikubaliana na nyinyi ya kwamba, hii bridge itakoma kuua watu wa Tharaka Nithi na hapa Meru,” Ruto said.

In September 2025, while meeting Tharaka Nithi leaders at State House, Ruto was again quoted as saying the bridge needed Ksh7 billion.

“I’ll fix that bridge. It needs Ksh7 billion. Ni pesa nyingi. Lakini juu chini, kulia na kushoto, mbele na nyuma, lazima nitengeneze hio bridge,” he said.

In March 2026, Ruto again told a gathering in Nyeri that the government had found a solution for the Nithi Bridge, adding that contractors had been identified.

His deputy, Kithure Kindiki, had also said in 2025 that the project had funds and had been advertised, promising that he and the president would open the new bridge.