The government has officially opened the 66-kilometer Ngong–Suswa highway, marking the end of prolonged delays, funding setbacks, and stalled works that plagued the project for years.
In a statement on Wednesday, the State Department of Roads confirmed that the highway, first launched in 2018, is now fully completed and available for public use. The new road creates a vital alternative corridor out of Nairobi through Ngong, helping ease pressure on the heavily congested Nairobi–Mai Mahiu and Narok routes.
“This road is now complete and open. Motorists can expect a smoother, safer, and more direct connection between Ngong and Suswa,” the ministry said.
Authorities had initially projected that the KSh4 billion project would take 42 months to deliver. However, construction ground to a halt in 2020 after the contractor abandoned the site due to financial challenges, pushing the timeline far beyond expectations.
By December 2024, the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KURA) reported that the project was 88 percent complete. At the time, KURA Resident Engineer Kenneth Mbogori expressed confidence that renewed funding would revive progress and finally bring the road to completion, an outcome that has now materialized.
“We faced real challenges, especially with funding disruptions,” he said then. “But with renewed support, the project picked up pace, and we are delighted that the road is finally operational.”
The new Ngong–Suswa highway is expected to significantly reduce congestion on the Nairobi–Mai Mahiu corridor, one of Kenya’s busiest routes for long-distance trucks and passenger traffic. The road has long been notorious for heavy traffic, long delays, and frequent accidents.
With its opening, motorists now have an alternative and more scenic connection to Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Kisii, Nyamira, and the wider Nyanza region. The route cuts through expansive savannah landscapes and offers striking views of the Rift Valley, making it not only practical but also visually appealing.
President William Ruto identified the Ngong–Suswa Highway as a flagship project under his administration’s commitment to completing stalled infrastructure works. Its completion represents a major milestone in the government’s push to restore efficiency and unlock long-delayed development projects.
