NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has warned motorists of significant traffic disruption along the busy corridor linking Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to James Gichuru Road as major road expansion works officially commence.
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 15, KeNHA confirmed that extensive improvement works are now underway along the 27-kilometre James Gichuru–JKIA (A8/B10) highway, a critical transport artery connecting eastern and western parts of Nairobi through the central business districts and key commercial zones.
The Authority said the project aims to enhance road capacity, improve safety, and ease chronic congestion along the heavily trafficked route, which serves thousands of commuters daily as well as airport traffic.
“Works on capacity enhancement, landscaping, and beautification along the James Gichuru–JKIA (A8/B10) Highway are ongoing in earnest,” KeNHA said.
Images shared by the Authority showed active construction across multiple sections of the corridor, with excavators, tipper trucks, and road machinery deployed on site.
Survey, inspection, and supervision teams were also visible overseeing excavation, drainage works and landscaping to ensure adherence to approved road designs and engineering standards.
KeNHA urged motorists using the affected sections to exercise caution, observe traffic signage, and comply with speed limits within the construction zones to minimise accidents and delays.
“Motorists plying the affected route are advised to exercise caution, observe traffic signage, and maintain low speeds within the project corridor,” the Authority said.
It added that temporary disruptions were unavoidable given the scale of the works, appealing to road users for patience and cooperation.
“KeNHA regrets any inconvenience caused and appeals to road users for cooperation to ensure their safety and facilitate the smooth and timely completion of the works,” the statement read.
The road expansion comes just days after KeNHA issued a firm notice ordering the removal of all roadside developments encroaching on the road reserve along the corridor.
In a notice dated January 13, the Authority directed owners of billboards, tree nurseries, kiosks and other temporary structures to vacate the affected sections within 14 days.
“All roadside developments within the said road reserve should be removed within 14 days from the date of this notice to pave the way for the implementation of the project works,” KeNHA said.
The Authority warned that any structures remaining after the deadline would be demolished without further reference to the owners, as permitted under road reserve regulations.
The JKIA–James Gichuru expansion forms part of broader government efforts to decongest Nairobi’s road network, improve connectivity between residential and commercial hubs, and support economic activity under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
