Nairobi: The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has called for a new approach to managing the Nairobi-Thika Superhighway, saying the road’s success under Kenya’s Vision 2030 has created a second generation of challenges requiring integrated corridor management.
According to Kenya News Agency, KeNHA officials emphasized that the focus should now shift from construction to preserving the highway, improving road safety, managing traffic, protecting the road reserve, and integrating the corridor with rapid urban development. During an inspection tour of major roads in the Nairobi region, KeNHA Deputy Regional Director Engineer Antony Mugo highlighted the completion of major projects along Corridor C, covering Thika Road to Moyale, in line with Vision 2030 projections.
Engineer Lawrence Opondo, Senior Inspector of Roads on Corridor C, noted the significant impact of the Nairobi-Thika Superhighway, which has improved connectivity and eased congestion that previously characterized the narrow Thika Road. Constructed between 2009 and 2012, and officially opened on November 9, 2012, the approximately 50-kilometer highway was designed to address severe congestion and improve transport links between Nairobi, Thika, and surrounding areas. The project cost approximately US$360 million and introduced widened carriageways, interchanges, flyovers, underpasses, and other facilities.
Opondo further explained that the transformation had generated wider economic benefits along the corridor. Improved accessibility has contributed to enhanced security, increased business activity, employment opportunities, and a rise in real estate development. Residents, like Joseph Kioko and Francis Njuguna, have reported reduced congestion, increased employment opportunities, and a boom in construction and real estate, leading to higher land prices and increased rental development.
Despite the benefits, residents warned of the growing pressure on the highway’s capacity and surrounding infrastructure due to the development spurred by the highway. They called for expansion to accommodate rising traffic volumes and additional road safety measures at identified black spots. KeNHA’s assessment indicates that recurring congestion is now among the most significant challenges facing the corridor.
Engineer Opondo highlighted that the problem is not only one of highway capacity but also of traffic management, access control, public transport operations, and land-use planning. He pointed out concerns about pavement deterioration due to intensive traffic and other contributing factors.
Engineer Mugo stated that KeNHA recommends designing pedestrian facilities around actual movement patterns and rationalizing bus stages to address challenges posed by public transport operations. Uncontrolled development and activities within or near the road reserve have reduced the highway’s effectiveness, and KeNHA is proposing formal roadside stations to manage these challenges while preserving economic opportunities.
Drainage issues are also a priority, with KeNHA advocating for a comprehensive drainage capacity and condition assessment alongside routine cleaning to prevent flooding and traffic disruption. According to Opondo, KENHA has already undertaken several interventions to improve the highway, including performance-based maintenance contracts, surface dressing, and additional pedestrian crossings.
