Chinese Firm Lands Ksh7.5 Billion Nithi Bridge Deal

A Chinese contractor has secured a Ksh7.5 billion deal to realign the accident-prone Nithi Bridge.

China Wu Yi Company Limited has been awarded the contract by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) following a competitive procurement process, according to disclosures by the procurement regulatory authority. The firm is expected to complete the project within three years, with an August 7, 2029, deadline.

Construction was scheduled to begin on April 21, 2026, shortly after the contract was signed earlier in the month. The project cost is about half that of the 84-kilometre Kenol–Marua dual carriageway, underlining its scale despite covering a shorter distance.

The works will involve realigning a dangerous 2.7-kilometre stretch between Marima and Mitheru shopping centres, including construction of a new 880-metre bridge over the Nithi River valley. KeNHA has described the planned crossing as one of the most complex and expensive road structures in the country once completed.

The existing section, characterised by a steep descent and sharp corners, has long been labelled a major accident black spot. Despite the installation of road signs and rumble strips to separate lanes, the area has recorded dozens of crashes and claimed over 100 lives in recent years.

Under the new design, the bridge will feature an eight-metre dual carriageway, with two-metre shoulders or walkways on either side and a maximum gradient of eight per cent to improve safety. The structure will be supported by large pillars, some rising up to 100 metres from the valley floor.

Engineers say the new alignment will take a different route from the current road, minimising traffic disruption during construction.

The project has been a political priority since President Ruto took office, with repeated pledges to address the deadly stretch. Speaking in 2023, he assured residents that funding would be secured to end fatalities linked to the bridge.

With just over a year to the 2027 General Election, the administration appears keen to deliver on the commitment. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently reiterated that financing is in place and public participation has been conducted, adding that the contractor would soon be introduced on site.

China Wu Yi, an overseas arm of Fujian Construction Engineering Group, has previously handled major projects in Kenya, including the Thika Superhighway, reinforcing its position as a key player in the country’s infrastructure sector.

Read: SGR and Nithi Bridge: Inside 20 MoUs Signed Between Kenya and China

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