The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced that motorists using a major stretch of the A8 Road, from the James Gichuru Junction to Rironi, will experience a 43-day temporary lane closure. In a notice shared on February 13, KeNHA said the closures will start on February 20, 2026, and continue until April 4, 2026.
According to KeNHA, the road is scheduled to undergo surface dressing, where a fresh layer is applied to improve the road’s condition, make it safer, and extend its lifespan before the next repair.
This, the authority noted, is routine maintenance. Owing to the heavy traffic on the A8 route, the work must be done carefully and in stages. KeNHA says the construction will be carried out in phases, meaning different sections of the road will be worked on at different times.
During each phase, some lanes will be closed, and traffic will be directed to use the remaining lanes or nearby service roads.
This stretch of the A8 is one of the most important roads in and out of Nairobi, linking the city to central and western Kenya.
KeNHA has since urged motorists to be patient during this period and to follow all diversion signs put up at the work zones.
“Motorists are expected to follow designated diversion routes set up at each work zone,” read the notice.
Traffic police officers and road marshals will also be stationed along the route to guide drivers and help keep traffic flowing.
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Drivers are being asked to slow down near the work areas, follow the guidance provided, and allow extra travel time, as the changes may cause delays.
These repairs are part of its wider plan to maintain and improve major roads across the country. Once the surface dressing work is complete, motorists can expect a smoother, safer driving experience along this section of the highway.
The James Gichuru–Rironi Stretch
The James Gichuru-Rironi stretch is the gateway out of Nairobi for motorists traveling toward Nakuru, Western Kenya, or even as far as Uganda.
The route also connects to major economic hubs, making it vital for traders, transporters, and daily commuters.
Government records show that improvements along this road are meant to support regional trade and reduce travel time by easing bottlenecks that usually occur after Westlands and at Rironi.
Wider plans for the A8 corridor, including the massive Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit PPP project, also underline the road’s strategic value.
According to the African Development Bank, the broader A8/A8 South corridor carries up to 40,000 vehicles on its busiest sections, serving over six million people and forming a backbone of the Northern Corridor transport route.
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About KeNHA and Its Road Improvement Mandate
KeNHA is the state agency responsible for managing, maintaining, rehabilitating, and developing Kenya’s national trunk roads, including major highways such as the A8.
It frequently undertakes upgrades along the Nairobi-Rironi corridor as part of larger national infrastructure initiatives.
KeNHA has been supervising major rehabilitation and widening works in the James Gichuru-Rironi area, including improvements to lane capacity, junction upgrades, and drainage.
The authority is also heavily involved in planning and implementing large-scale expressway and PPP projects across the country, including the A8 and A8 South expansions from Rironi toward Nakuru, Naivasha, and Mai Mahiu.
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