John Mwangi
President William Ruto on Thursday launched one of the largest infrastructure projects in Kenya’s history: the KSh200 billion dualling of the 175-kilometre Nairobi–Mau Summit section of the A8 highway and the perilous 58-kilometre Nairobi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha stretch along the Kikuyu Escarpment.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at Kamandura in Kiambu County, the President described the Western Corridor as a national bottleneck that has cost the country thousands of lives and slowed economic growth.
“For years, our people have spent countless hours trapped in relentless traffic on these roads,” President Ruto said.
“Beyond the inconvenience, these highways have become graveyards. The horror crashes along this corridor have claimed thousands of lives, shattering families and robbing our nation of immense potential,” he added.
Official police data presented at the event showed that 168 people died on the two sections in 2023, with fatalities surging to 284 in 2024—losses the President termed “devastating and unacceptable.”
The Nairobi–Mau Summit project, structured as a public–private partnership involving government funding and international investment, will convert the entire corridor into a modern four-to-six-lane dual carriageway, complete with grade-separated interchanges, service lanes, pedestrian walkways, improved drainage, and enhanced safety measures.
Linking the initiative to a broader national transformation agenda, President Ruto announced a far-reaching plan to build 30,500 kilometres of new roads over the next 10 years. This includes 2,500 kilometres of dual carriageways and 28,000 kilometres of other critical road networks across the country.
“This ambitious programme is at the heart of our grand vision to transform Kenya—unlocking opportunities in every region and placing our country firmly on the path to joining the ranks of developed nations in our lifetime,” he said.
The President emphasized that the government is committed to excellence and no longer willing to settle for low-grade delivery in public infrastructure.
“To achieve this, we are deliberately moving away from the ordinary, the average, and the mediocre. We are embracing excellence and the highest standards of delivery in every project we undertake,” he said.
He added: “Our commitment is to make Kenya better connected, more competitive, and more prosperous—for all our people today, and for generations to come.”
Once completed, the upgraded highway is expected to reduce travel time between Nairobi and western Kenya, improve the flow of regional trade to and from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and unlock economic potential across the Rift Valley and Western regions.
Construction will be phased, with the Nairobi–Naivasha section prioritised due to its long-standing reputation as one of East Africa’s deadliest road segments. Full completion is projected within four to five years.
Residents and motorists who attended the launch described the current road as a “death trap,” citing heavy trucks, steep gradients, and frequent fog along the escarpment.
“This road has taken too many lives, including people I know,” said Jane Wanjiku, a trader from Naivasha.
The initiative adds to a growing portfolio of major infrastructure projects under the Ruto administration, following the Nairobi Expressway and continued expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway.
With the ceremonial turning of the sod at Kamandura, Kenya has taken what the President described as “a decisive step toward building a safer, more efficient, and more prosperous nation for every Kenyan.”