- A video shows President William Ruto driving himself along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway as he launched its dualling
- While cruising smoothly on the highway, the president assured travellers that congestion would ease by late next year, with critical sections of the road expanded ahead of schedule
- Ruto said the entire 175-kilometre project will be fully dualised by June 2027, ending gridlock and accidents on the busy route
A video has surfaced showing President William Ruto personally driving along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.
Source: Twitter
The clip, taken when the president was launching the dualling of the aforementioned highway, captures him behind the wheel of an SUV, cruising steadily as he comments on the state of the road, which he noted has long inconvenienced travellers heading to Western Kenya.
Ruto remarked that the recent launch of the highway’s dualling last month was overdue, adding that it would ease traffic congestion on the major route.
He assured that with construction already underway, traffic flow will improve by late next year.
The president stressed that this festive season would be the last in which travellers endure gridlock, acknowledging that while the road will not be fully completed by the end of next year, the most critical sections will be finished.
The project is scheduled for full completion by June 2027.
“The only year people are going to run into trouble the way we’ve always known this road to be; with heavy traffic, a lot of jam, people spending countless hours on the road, people getting to their homes way after Christmas is just going to be this year. Next year, by December next year, this road will be all clear. It will not be completely done, but the sections that are critical will already be done. And by, as I said, by June 2027, we will have completed this road and the heavy traffic, the many accidents, the wastage of time will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Ruto launched the dualling works on November 28 after consultations with senior officials from China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).
Its subsidiary, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), was contracted to execute the project.
Ruto said the key sections of the highway that are prone to high traffic congestion will undergo expansion concurrently.
The plan to expand the highway had been a contemplated plan since former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
But in March this year, Ruto’s Cabinet approved accelerated preparations for the project.
The National Executive sanctioned the multibillion‑shilling taxpayer‑funded investment, with construction expected to take two years and finish by 2027.
Government agencies were directed to submit a comprehensive implementation plan by June 1, 2025, ahead of the works.
The upgrade will convert the existing two‑lane single carriageway into a four‑lane dual carriageway, doubling capacity and easing traffic congestion
The Cabinet has stated that the project is set to enhance national connectivity and spur economic growth.
Ruto revealed that a previous Public‑Private Partnership with a French company collapsed due to undisclosed issues.
He confirmed that a new investor has since been identified, with negotiations ongoing and construction scheduled to commence in 2025.
The expansion will eventually stretch past Nakuru, reaching the Malaba border.
Originally planned for launch in 2021, the project was delayed following disputes between the Uhuru administration and the French firm.
The Ministry of Roads and Transport later explained that the investor’s conditions were unfavourable, prompting rejection of the KSh 160 billion deal signed in 2019.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
