Motorists travelling between Nairobi and Thika could get an alternative route as the government prepares to launch construction of a proposed elevated expressway within the next two months, in a project expected to ease congestion along one of the busiest transport corridors in the Nairobi metropolitan area.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced on Wednesday, October 28, that President William Ruto is expected to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony after the government finalizes the remaining details. Speaking in Kiambu County, Kindiki said the proposed expressway would connect Thika town to Museum Hill in Nairobi, offering motorists an additional route alongside the existing Thika Superhighway.
The proposed road is expected to cover approximately 60 kilometres and adopt an elevated design similar to the Nairobi Expressway, which connects the area around Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to James Gichuru Road in Westlands. Under the proposal, motorists would have the option of using the elevated route while other traffic continues along the existing highway.
The project responds to persistent traffic congestion along the Nairobi-Thika corridor, which serves commuters travelling from Thika, Ruiru, Juja and other rapidly growing urban centres into the capital. Although the Thika Superhighway was developed during former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, increasing vehicle numbers and urban growth have continued to place pressure on the route, particularly during peak commuting hours.
For commuters, an additional expressway could reduce travel delays and make journeys more predictable. Businesses that depend on road transport could also benefit from improved movement of goods and employees. However, the extent of these benefits will depend on the road’s final design, access points, connections to surrounding roads and the number of motorists willing and able to use it.
The government had previously indicated that the project was undergoing feasibility studies and design work to assess route options, engineering requirements, traffic capacity, construction costs, environmental and social impacts, and land requirements. Preliminary estimates reported by local media have placed the potential cost at between KSh150 billion and KSh200 billion, although the final project cost and financing arrangements have not been conclusively announced. A public-private partnership has been reported as a possible financing model.
The proposed expressway also raises questions about affordability if toll charges are introduced. The Nairobi Expressway operates as a toll road, and the financing model being considered for the Thika route could influence how motorists access the new infrastructure. The government has yet to publish definitive toll rates or the full terms under which the proposed road would be financed and operated.
Kindiki’s latest announcement places the groundbreaking within the next one to two months, but it does not establish when the expressway will be completed and opened to traffic. The project’s progress will depend on the finalization of preparatory work, financing and implementation arrangements.
As Nairobi and its surrounding towns continue to expand, the proposed expressway represents another attempt to increase road capacity and address congestion through major infrastructure investment. For motorists, the immediate question is whether the planned launch will translate into timely construction and a practical alternative to the daily traffic delays experienced along Thika Road.
