BREAKING NEWS :

The daily grind for thousands of commuters on the Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi corridor is finally set to ease. After months of anticipation, the government has officially greenlit a major overhaul of the 23.5-kilometer artery, handing the construction tender to Chinese firm Stecol Corporation.

The contract, inked on Tuesday, promises to completely transform the landscape of this busy northern transport route.

From Two Lanes to a Modern Highway

Currently a constricted two-lane road, the stretch will be demolished and rebuilt into a spacious four-lane dual carriageway. But the upgrade doesn’t stop at the tarmac. The design includes dedicated service lanes to separate local traffic from express transit, safe pedestrian walkways, and six strategically placed footbridges to prevent accidents in congested zones like markets and schools.

The revamped route will snake from Pangani, sweeping through the affluent neighborhoods of Muthaiga, Ridgeways, Windsor, and Runda, before terminating at Ndumberi.

The Price Tag: A Breakdown

This level of infrastructure comes at a significant cost. The total project valuation sits at a staggering KSh38.7 billion.

To put that in perspective, that translates to roughly KSh1.63 billion for every single kilometer of road constructed. This high per-kilometer cost reflects the complexity of the terrain and the extensive structures required.

The Engineering Highlights

To ensure a smooth flow of traffic and eliminate the notorious gridlock at major intersections, the project will feature new bridges and overpasses at five critical points:

• Muthaiga Golf Club Spur

• Coffee Garden

• Tala Road

• Ridgeways

• Kirigiti Junction

Who is Paying for It?

As is common with Kenya’s largest infrastructure projects, the funding is being facilitated through a loan facility from the EXIM Bank of China, solidifying the continued partnership between Nairobi and Beijing in the transport sector.