Ruto promises to build Expressway along Thika Road to ease traffic

President William Ruto has unveiled a new set of major infrastructure commitments, pledging to construct an expressway from Thika to Museum Hill beginning next year, in what he says is part of a broader plan to ease Nairobi’s growing traffic congestion.

Speaking during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, the Head of State outlined a long list of fresh and revived road projects across the capital, adding to the series of pledges that have earned him the moniker “king of promises.”

Ruto said the national government and the Nairobi County administration had reached an agreement to restart all stalled road works in the city.

“There are a lot of things we have agreed with the Nairobi County Government to undertake in the city. We are going to build all the roads that had stalled here in Nairobi, and we have already agreed to return all contractors,” he said.

The President noted that 60 kilometres of roads are already under construction across various estates.

“Right now, 60 kilometres of roads are ongoing, for example: Muhuri Road in Dagoretti South, Mama Wahu Road in Dagoretti South, the Mihang’o Link Bypass in Embakasi East, Umoja 1 SDA Road in Embakasi West, Thindigwa Road in Roysambu, and Road C in Embakasi South,” he said.

The president noted a new contractor has already been deployed on Valley Road to complete the long-stalled project, alongside other major upgrades.

“Ngong Road and Haile Selassie Avenue are ongoing, and because the Expressway is complete, starting this December, when you will be travelling for Christmas, we will rebuild the road from JKIA to ABC and undertake beautification so that Nairobi is seen as a proper city,” he stated.

The President also promised a major upgrade for the broader Nairobi metropolitan region, targeting areas where residents face daily gridlock.

He said his administration would expand Ngong Road into a dual carriageway starting from the Bomas of Kenya all the way to Ngong in Kajiado County. 

“We know that many Kenyans live within the Nairobi metropolitan area and work in the city—people who live in Kiserian, Rongai, Ngong—who experience huge traffic jams in the morning and evening. From next year, the road from the Bomas of Kenya to Rongai and Kiserian, and from Karen through Ngong to Kiserian, will be expanded into a dual carriageway,” he said.

In the same light, the head of state shifted his attention to Thika Road, saying commuters continue to experience heavy traffic despite the existing eight-lane superhighway built under the Mwai Kibaki tenure.

He said, "I understand that many people who live in Thika and use Thika Road now face huge traffic. Beginning next year, just like we have the Expressway from JKIA, we will also build an Expressway from Thika to Museum Hill so that we ease traffic."

The road was commissioned in 2022 and is one of the most expensive infrastructure investments.