Two people are feared dead in a tragic lorry accident at the notorious Nithi Bridge after the vehicle they were in, ferrying green bananas, veered off the bridge and plunged into the river.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, as the lorry travelled from Meru to Nairobi.

Rescue operations underway

According to eyewitnesses, the lorry, which was heavily loaded with produce, is suspected to have suffered brake failure on the steep descent. The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to crash through the bridge’s barriers and roll into the Nithi River.

Emergency response teams rushed to the scene and managed to retrieve one body from the wreckage. The second body remains trapped inside the mangled lorry, as recovery efforts continue. The river’s strong currents and the challenging terrain have complicated the operation, with teams working to access the submerged vehicle.

Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander Zaccheus Ng’eno confirmed the accident, saying, “Investigations are underway to establish the exact cause.”

Preliminary findings point to mechanical failure along the dangerous stretch.

Long-standing safety concerns

The Nithi Bridge, a key transport link in eastern Kenya, has long been flagged as a blackspot due to its history of fatal accidents. On April 4, 2025, Meru Governor Mutuma M’ethingia raised concerns over the bridge’s safety during President William Ruto’s tour of Tharaka Nithi County.

Governor Mutuma, accompanied by national and regional leaders, underscored the bridge’s significance as part of a major trade corridor connecting Meru to Somalia and Ethiopia. He urged the president to prioritise its rehabilitation, citing its national importance.

Govt pledges rehabilitation

In response to mounting public pressure, President Ruto pledged to address the issue by 2027. He announced that the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had allocated Ksh5 million for initial works before unveiling a larger Ksh 7 billion reconstruction plan on August 4, 2025.

KeNHA subsequently issued guidelines for the tendering process, announcing on August 5 that bids for the Nithi Bridge realignment along the Makutano–Embu–Meru (A9) Road would be available on the e-GP platform from August 11.

According to a 2022 NTSA report, the Nithi Bridge has claimed more than 50 lives since 2010, highlighting its status as a persistent blackspot since its construction in 1985. The latest tragedy adds to the long list of fatal accidents along the stretch.