Ruto Announces Construction of Nairobi-Thika Expressway

President William Ruto has announced plans to construct a new expressway linking Nairobi to Thika.

Speaking during Jamhuri Day celebrations at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, December 12, the President said the expressway will ease the heavy traffic currently experienced along the Nairobi–Thika Superhighway.

Ruto made the declaration while outlining several major roads used by commuters who live outside the capital but work in the city, noting that many of these routes have recently suffered severe congestion, causing lengthy travel times.

He said Magadi Road (Bomas–Rongai–Kiserian) and the Bomas–Karen–Ngong–Kiserian road will be expanded into dual carriageways in 2026 to ease movement.

“I know that many citizens live outside Nairobi but work and run businesses here in the city. Many people live in Kiserian, Rongai, and Ngong, and there is heavy traffic as they come in the morning and return home in the evening. Next year, the road from Bomas of Kenya–Rongai–Kiserian and Bomas of Kenya–Karen–Shade Hotel–Ngong–Embulbul–Kiserian will be upgraded into a dual carriageway,” Ruto said.

Ruto announces construction of Nairobi-Thika Expressway

The President added that the existing Thika Superhighway has become increasingly overwhelmed despite being a six-lane dual carriageway, prompting the decision to establish a new expressway to support growing traffic demand.

“Many citizens live in Thika, and now Thika Road has also become congested, with heavy traffic along the highway. I would like to announce that next year, just as we have the expressway from JKIA, we will also build an expressway from Thika to Museum Hill so that we can eliminate traffic in that road.”

This comes shortly after President Ruto stirred public debate with remarks suggesting that his administration intends to dual the Thika Superhighway, a road that has already been dualled for more than a decade.

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While speaking during the release of the Jukwaa la Usalama report at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday, December 2, the President highlighted his government’s plan to dual 2,500 kilometres of roads across the country as part of a broader agenda to transform Kenya into a first-world economy.

“Barabara tumeanzisha kutoka Rironi, the first 170km, tunatengeneza lane nne. Ikifika Naivasha tunapanua inakuwa lane sita mpaka Nakuru ndo tuwache msongamano,” he said.

“Hii barabara ya kuenda Ongata Rongai na Ngong tunafanya dual carriageway. Barabara ya kutoka Thika mpaka hapa Nairobi, next year tunafanya dual carriageway.”

His comments quickly drew public attention, with many Kenyans questioning why the government would consider dualling a road that already exists as a dual carriageway.

The Thika Superhighway, upgraded during the late former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration at a cost of Ksh31 billion, was officially opened in November 2012 as a fully dualled six-lane highway.

Cabinet approves Ksh38.7 billion upgrade of Kiambu Road

Last month, the Cabinet approved the dualling of the 23.5-kilometre Pangani–Muthaiga–Kiambu– Ndumberi road project.

The new road is also aimed at eliminating the persistent traffic jams that have made daily travel between Kiambu and Nairobi time-consuming.

According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the existing two-lane B32 road will be upgraded into a four-lane dual carriageway with two-lane service roads, pedestrian walkways, and six footbridges to enhance safety in busy areas such as Ridgeways, Thindigua, and Kiambu Town. 

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Financed through a Ksh38.7 billion loan from China’s EXIM Bank, the project will be implemented under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract over 36 months, followed by a 24-month defects liability period.

The redesigned road will cover 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.

It begins at Pangani, stretching past Muthaiga Golf Club, Ridgeways, Windsor, and Runda then to Ndumberi.

Several new bridges and overpasses will be constructed at Muthaiga Golf Club Spur, Mua Road, DCI, Coffee Garden, Tala Road, Ridgeways and Runda U-turns, and Kirigiti Junction

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