Argwings Kodhek gets new look as Nairobi’s roads rehabilitation gains pace

Sakaja said the ongoing upgrades form part of a coordinated plan targeting all 17 constituencies, where roads have deteriorated due to years of neglect and poor drainage.

He cited Argwings Kodhek Road in Kilimani as one of the major corridors that has recently undergone a full overhaul. The previously pothole-ridden stretch has now been resurfaced, easing movement for drivers heading towards Lavington, Kawangware and the wider Dagoretti area.

“Argwings Kodhek has been a headache for motorists for many years. That has changed. From DoD to Ole Dume, the entire road has been redone,” Sakaja said, adding that similar works are underway in several other parts of Nairobi.

The governor noted that the county is also prioritising drainage works in flood-prone areas. Along Cotton Avenue, which links Dennis Pritt Road to Yaya Centre, drainage improvements are currently ongoing as part of efforts to mitigate perennial flooding.

Sakaja said constituencies such as Embakasi East and Embakasi West are among the largest beneficiaries of the KSh2.1 billion Nairobi Roads Upgrade Programme, funded jointly by the county and the national government. Together, the two areas have received KSh867 million.

The funds are supporting the construction and rehabilitation of 10 key roads, including Umoja One SDA Road, Kwa Maji Road, Tena Police Post Access Road, the Bypass–Mohango Link Road, Aviation School–Fedha–Tassia–Nyayo Embakasi Road, Embakasi Village Access Road, Mohango Kajuju Road, Kibiku Muhuyu Road, and the Komarock Estate Access Road.

Individual projects range from KSh11 million to KSh216 million and are expected to improve connectivity to schools, businesses and residential estates.

Sakaja said the infrastructure programme is being implemented in every part of the city, including Kasarani, Dagoretti, Lang’ata and Westlands, noting that improved road access is essential for linking communities to essential services.

Residents say they hope the ongoing works will ease Nairobi’s chronic traffic and drainage challenges, which often worsen during the rainy season.

County officials expect more projects to break ground before the end of the year, marking what they describe as one of the city’s most extensive road rehabilitation efforts in recent years.a