CHANIA RIVER BRIDGE: Is this a disaster in waiting?

Of late, there have been public concerns over the safety of the exit Chania River Bridge on your way to Murang’a County from Thika town.

When the Thika Superhighway was constructed between 2009 and November 2012, that part of the bridge was constructed as a pedestrian walk and to be used by cyclists.

However, in 2017, the then Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu Babayao constructed an exit route, hived from the edge of River Chania to ease traffic from the town centre through Haile Selassie road.

Since the old Chania Bridge near Blue Post Hotel is a one-way traffic, vehicles heading towards Murang’a side started exiting Haile Selassie Road through that small bridge that was initially not meant to be used by vehicles. This has remained the sole exit route for vehicles heading to Murang’a side.

With time, the floor of the bridge has started eroding and it is now in a very dilapidated state. The potholes on the edges of this bridge are so huge and proving to be a nightmare, especially for small vehicles, tuktuks and motorcycles. Motorists are now worried that it might cave in and collapse. Their fears are that it might collapse while a vehicle is crossing, thereby plunging it into the swollen Chania River, especially now that the river is flooded with rain water. This is a disaster in waiting.

Recently, the town CBD roads including Haile Selassie road were recarpeted under Kenya Urban Roads Authority – KURA, but leaving out that single part which is under Kenya National Highways Authority – KeNHA.

The public worry is that it is now getting so dangerous to use that part of the bridge. They are now calling on the concerned department to either repair it or expand the existing Chania Bridge to accommodate two-way traffic.

The other pedestrian and cyclist bridge near the Chania Falls is also in a very bad state. The guard rails were vandalized long time and any slight mistake will see someone fall into the river. That is another death trap.

People are now getting scared of using it to a point that they are competing with vehicles on the colonial Chania bridge, further risking loss of lives through accidents.

It is the high time the leadership of both Kiambu and Murang’a Counties advocated for a permanent solution to this problem before disaster strikes. It is never too late to correct the mess. We can stand up and be counted.

[festusmburu]

Thanks for bringing this up. BOTH BRIDGES ARE NOT SAFE. I repeat both bridges!!!
Are we just waiting for another mass funeral?? Where are the engineers and politicians?

[berinanaturethirst]

Thank you for bringing this to light. I hope it will be repaired soon. I also use the road a lot.

[agnes-rb]

Good you aired this yesterday we passed and i was so worried zhe river is swollen and the bridge is becoming weak day by day

[charlesmaina-wz]

Am a driving student, , n i passsed on it coming from Gatanga on test yeterday...i couldnt blink a second..wiiih!😮

[benanderson]

I cross that bridge regularly. It is not designed for the traffic it receives, and is definitely in need of repair. Thika needs two good exchanges onto the Superhighway. Even the Garissa Highway exchange is too small.

[lydiamburia]

CHANIA RIVER BRIDGE: Is this a disaster in waiting? WHAT AN EMBARRASMENT, OVER TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS OF KIAMBU AND MURANG'A TO STOP THIS MESS, OTHERWISE WE'RE JEOPARDIZING PEOPLE'S LIVES. AIBU NDOGO NDOGO WAKENYA HAWATAKI, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE WE'RE LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY, KENYANS DESERVE DECENT MODERN STATE OF THE ART INFRASTRUCTURES.

[Kary_]

Wenye wako kwa office yaani lazima watu wapige kelele ndio wake kufanya kitu

[edwingichobi]

This is the nonsense I don't like seeing in a country where citizens are paying tax.What is both the county and the national governments doing to address this rooming danger?Or we are waiting for the area politicians and agencies concerned to issues messages of condolences after loosing lives?Wananchi and in particular the motorists should close down that bridge immediately and don't wait till we loose lives.Too sad.

[bmshekinah]

baba yao sio wetu, its sad but I wonder was there a budget for building a bridge during the construction of the exit lane, I wonder

[harrismuiruri]

The whole area is very dangerous, and many accidents happen in the general area! The whole area needs to be looked at because of the amount of traffic that passes through the whole area 😢

[johnmaina]

Need urgent attention. This is indeed a disaster in waiting. Red alert already given. The leadership should come with speed and not wait to mourn over an issue can correct now. Governor Wamatangi, the ball is on you 😮

[gladysbenson]

Should we wait until disaster strikes in order to act?

[puregold]

Dangerous Dangerous!!! Anything can happen

[gathunguwaweru]

This is just a shortcut, they should think of their life’s value.

[annewambui]

Ugomvi ndio mingi Kiambu at the expense of development. God help us

[milkajoyofficial]

The road should be closed henceforth. Why wait for a disaster.?