NAIROBI, Kenya – A key section of the Nairobi Expressway will be closed for three days beginning Friday, May 16, to allow for scheduled maintenance and construction works, Moja Expressway has announced.
The affected stretch runs from the James Gichuru Road overpass to Njuguna’s Place on Waiyaki Way and will be inaccessible from 6:00 am on Friday until 8:00 pm on Monday, May 19.
In a public notice issued Thursday, the expressway operator advised motorists to plan alternative routes as the temporary closure is expected to disrupt traffic flow for thousands of daily users.
“Motorists are informed that the Nairobi Expressway section from the overpass at James Gichuru Roundabout to Njuguna’s Place on Waiyaki Way will be temporarily closed… to facilitate road construction and maintenance works,” the notice read.
Traffic Adjustments and Expected Impact
Moja Expressway clarified that traffic along the underpass and the main Nairobi–Nakuru Highway will remain unaffected.
However, significant disruptions are anticipated around Waiyaki Way as vehicles that normally use the expressway overpass will now be funneled into local lanes.
This will force drivers heading toward James Gichuru Road and Red Hill Link Road to use shared exits, likely increasing congestion over the weekend.
The closure comes just days after another temporary six-hour shutdown at Museum Hill, a critical node on the expressway network, raising concerns about cumulative traffic disruptions in the city centre.
Maintaining a Vital Lifeline
Since its launch, the Nairobi Expressway has become a vital corridor easing movement between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the city’s western suburbs.
Built as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the tolled double-decker highway was meant to ease Nairobi’s chronic traffic woes.
In 2024, then Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen estimated that Nairobi’s economy was losing up to Sh120 billion annually due to congestion, underscoring the expressway’s strategic importance.
Still, challenges remain. Motorists frequently cite bottlenecks at manual toll collection (MTC) points, especially during rush hour and in rainy weather.
These queues often spill into electronic toll collection (ETC) lanes, negating the efficiency gains.
Calls for Digitisation
Stakeholders have renewed calls for a full transition to digital tolling to minimise delays at exits such as Haile Selassie Avenue, where congestion has become a recurring issue.
Moja Expressway has defended its maintenance schedule, saying regular upgrades are crucial for long-term safety and performance.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and urge motorists to bear with us as we work to improve the road’s condition and user experience,” the company said.
