The dualling of the 23.5-kilometre Muthaiga -Kiambu -Ndumberi road, commonly known as Kiambu Road, is set to significantly ease traffic congestion between Nairobi and Kiambu counties, marking a major milestone in the government’s infrastructure modernization plan.
According to a dispatch issued on Tuesday, the project will widen the current two-lane single carriageway into a four-lane dual carriageway with two-lane service roads and pedestrian ways on both sides. The project aims at ensuring smooth travel by improving connectivity and enhancing safety to accommodate increasing volumes of traffic between the two counties.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), which is implementing the project, announced that the new design will incorporate several key bridges and interchanges to ensure smoother traffic flow.
These include a new bridge at Muthaiga Golf Club Spur, Mua Road Overpass, DCI Overpass, Coffee Garden U-turn, Tala Road Overpass Bridge, Ridgeways U-turn Underpass Bridge, Runda U-turn, and Kirigiti Junction Bridge.
The project will also include three major interchanges at Kamiti Road, Banana Road, and the Northern Bypass, plus six pedestrian footbridges to enhance road safety.
The main trunk road will connect Muthaiga to Kirigiti Junction, extend through Kiambu Town and the Governor’s Office, and terminate at Ndumberi -Sasini. Two bypasses will also be constructed: one linking Githunguri Road-Sasini-Boma Road, and another connecting Riabai to Kiriguini B Road.
Additionally, the project will include several spur roads branching off from the main highway to improve access to nearby neighborhoods and institutions. These include Ridgeways Road from Kiambu Road to Thika Road (Roasters), Evergreen-UN Avenue via Runda, Wambui Road, Muthaiga North, Mua Park Road/Serengeti Avenue, KIST Junction-Kamiti Road, and Boma Road-Kirigiti.
Tender and Financing
KeNHA had earlier invited tenders for contractors to undertake the project but has not yet announced the winning bidder, even though the application window closed on August 22, 2025.
The applicants were to demonstrate technical and financial capacity to undertake the project, including a proven record of completing similar large-scale infrastructure projects, besides assuring an annual construction turnover of at least Ksh32.2 billion (USD 250 million) over the past five years.
“The government had received commitment from China through the China Export Import (EXIM) Bank to finance the cost of the road’s capacity enhancement. The financing agreements shall be signed upon finalization of the commercial contract,” KeNHA said in a statement.
Controversy Over Tender Restrictions
Although the upgrade of the road was due to commence early this year, KeNHA cancelled the tender shortly after advertising it due to public criticism on the procurement process.
The tender notice reportedly limited participation to Chinese companies, drawing backlash from stakeholders who argued that the move violated Kenya’s Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, which prioritizes local firms in government contracts.
Despite the setback, the Muthaiga-Kiambu-Ndumberi Road expansion remains a high-priority project expected to reduce travel time, spur economic growth, and improve mobility between Nairobi’s northern suburbs and Kiambu County.
