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President William Ruto has announced plans to build a new expressway connecting Nairobi and Thika, aiming to relieve the heavy traffic currently affecting the Nairobi–Thika Superhighway.
Speaking during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium on December 12, the President highlighted the challenges faced by commuters living outside Nairobi who use major roads into the city, many of which have become severely congested, causing long travel times.
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Ruto also stated that Magadi Road (Bomas–Rongai–Kiserian) and the Bomas–Karen–Ngong–Kiserian road will be expanded into dual carriageways to improve traffic flow. He noted that the existing Thika Superhighway, despite being a six-lane dual carriageway, is struggling to handle growing traffic volumes, prompting the decision to construct a new expressway.
The announcement follows earlier remarks by the President about plans to dual 2,500 kilometres of roads nationwide, part of a broader initiative to transform Kenya into a first-world economy. He referenced several ongoing road projects, including expansion from Rironi to Naivasha and the Ongata Rongai–Ngong dual carriageway, emphasizing the need to reduce congestion on key commuter routes.
His comments on further dualling the Thika Superhighway sparked public debate, as the road was already upgraded to a six-lane dual carriageway under the late President Mwai Kibaki at a cost of Ksh31 billion and officially opened in November 2012.
Last month, the Cabinet approved the dualling of the 23.5-kilometre Pangani–Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi road to address persistent traffic jams between Kiambu and Nairobi. According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the project will convert the existing two-lane B32 road into a four-lane dual carriageway with two-lane service roads, pedestrian walkways, and six footbridges in busy areas such as Ridgeways, Thindigua, and Kiambu Town.
The Ksh38.7 billion project, funded through a loan from China’s EXIM Bank, will be carried out under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract over 36 months, followed by a 24-month defects liability period.
The upgraded road will be constructed in three sections: Muthaiga to Kirigiti Junction, Kirigiti Junction through Kiambu Town to the Governor’s Office, and the Governor’s Office to Ndumberi near Sasini Estate. The route starts at Pangani, passing Muthaiga Golf Club, Ridgeways, Windsor, Runda, and ending at Ndumberi. Several new bridges and overpasses will also be built at key points including Muthaiga Golf Club Spur, Mua Road, DCI, Coffee Garden, Tala Road, Ridgeways, Runda U-turns, and Kirigiti Junction.
