With the government preparing to expand the busy Kiambu Road into a dual carriageway, a section of motorists are urging authorities not to rush the multi-billion-shilling project without proper consultations and planning.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 11, MAK is now calling on the Ministry of Transport to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study before any construction gets underway. The group also wants a detailed environmental impact assessment and public participation forums so that residents and road users get a say in how the project is executed.
“Kiambu Road users have a right to understand what will be taken, what will be relocated and what impact this project will have on their lives for decades,” the association said.
While appreciating the commitment by the government to improve infrastructure in the region, motorists cautioned against turning the project into a political showpiece aimed at wooing voters in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
“It should not be a rushed political report or a pre-election spectacle,” said a statement issued by the movement’s leaders. “Election seasons often come with cosmetic promises-fresh paint on neglected roads and quick wins for political optics.
Mr Kagiri, however, said the major challenge facing Kiambu Road was not just narrow lanes, but lack of order in daily traffic management. The group urged the government to first develop a modern public transport system and not just increase tarmac roads.
“What Kiambu Road really needs is not just asphalt,” the association said, “it needs order – a clean, efficient transport system with predictable buses on dedicated lanes, not the chaos of matatus fighting for space.”
Their appeal comes just hours after President William Ruto’s Cabinet approved the dualling of the 23.5-kilometre Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi road, a project meant to ease congestion and improve travel between Nairobi and Kiambu counties.
A Cabinet dispatch issued on Tuesday said the expanded road would include bypasses, loops, and access roads to smooth traffic flow and reduce travel time. The design will also include lanes for pedestrians and cyclists to enhance safety among all road users.
The government said that this was part of its effort to modernize the Nairobi metropolitan transport network in line with Kenya Vision 2030 and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on infrastructure and mobility.
The expansion at hand brings out hopes and fears in many commuters: expectations of reduced travel time but apprehension over how their voices will be heard in the process.
