The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Davis Chirchir, has invited comments on proposed regulations to manage and develop roadside stations along Kenya’s highways.
In a notice published on February 27, Chirchir stated that a Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared to assess the potential effects of the regulations on the community and businesses.
“PURSUANT to section 8 of the Statutory Instruments Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport notifies the general public that a Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared in respect of the proposed Kenya Roads (Roadside Stations) Regulations, 2025, to assess the impact of the Regulations on the community and businesses,” read part of the notice.
New Rules to Regulate Roadside Stations
According to Chirchir, the proposed rules are intended to support the effective management and use of Kenya’s highways, particularly for long-distance travellers.
He noted that the rules aim to ensure that roadside stations are properly developed and managed and to provide essential services and amenities for motorists.
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Chirchir also argued that the rules seek to promote investment, socioeconomic development, and efficient logistics along national roads.
Additionally, he highlighted that the regulations seek to safeguard cargo in transit, strengthen control over roadside development, and improve revenue collection by increasing efficiency along national roads.
Stakeholders and members of the public who may be affected by the proposed regulations are invited to submit written feedback within 14 days.
“The Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, therefore, requests all persons likely to be affected by the proposed Regulations to submit written memoranda to reach the Cabinet Secretary within fourteen (14) days from the date of publication of this notice to the email address [email protected],” read part of the notice.
KeNHA Gives Eviction Notice to Traders Along Thika Road
The process comes against the background of efforts by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to clear illegal roadside structures along highways. KeNHA had previously issued a notice to roadside traders at Kihunguro, Allsops, and Delview along the Thika Superhighway requiring them to vacate within seven days.
The notice, dated February 23, directed all affected traders to clear their wares from the road reserve to allow construction of designated roadside stations along the busy corridor.
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KeNHA said the planned stations will enhance corridor functionality, boost safety standards, and help address the persistent traffic congestion that has long frustrated commuters along the Thika Superhighway.
”This is to facilitate the construction of designated roadside stations intended to enhance corridor functionality, improve safety standards, and alleviate traffic congestion along the affected sections,” stated the notice.
However, many traders raised concerns about their livelihoods, saying the roadside markets were their only source of income, and the eviction notice left thousands of families with no alternative plan.
They argued that local politicians were using the KeNHA directive as a cover to displace them for their own benefits.
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