NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has issued a 30-day ultimatum to traders and businesses operating on road reserves along national highways, directing them to remove all unlawful structures or face demolition and cost recovery.
In a public notice released on Tuesday, November 25, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) warned that continued encroachment on road reserves had become a major safety concern.
Acting Director General Luka Kimeli said unapproved billboards, kiosks, advertisements, and directional signs were obstructing visibility, endangering motorists, and degrading public infrastructure.
“All persons with unlawful structures, businesses, developments, including unapproved and unrenewed billboards, advertisements, and directional signs on road reserves are hereby required to remove them within thirty (30) days,” the notice stated.
Kimeli added that failure to comply would trigger enforcement action “without further notice,” including demolition and recovery of the expenses incurred.
KeNHA encouraged affected traders to seek clarification where necessary, saying the clean-up is part of a broader effort to maintain safety, enforce land-use laws, and ensure seamless movement along national corridors.
The ultimatum comes against a backdrop of increased enforcement targeting roadside encroachment. In August, five individuals were arraigned in a Mombasa court after defying earlier notices to vacate a road reserve along the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway.
The court heard that the group had ignored multiple warnings issued in April, actions that violated Section 49(1)(a) as read with Section 49(6) of the Kenya Roads Act, 2007.
KeNHA said compliance with land-use regulations remains critical to safeguarding public infrastructure and preventing future encroachments—an issue that has contributed to traffic hazards and obstructed key expansion projects.
The crackdown aligns with similar measures by other agencies. In September, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) announced plans to remove illegal signboards and installations along the Eastern Bypass, arguing that the structures compromised safety and distorted the urban landscape.
As the 30-day clock begins to tick, authorities are banking on cooperation from businesses and advertisers to restore order on national corridors, warning that non-compliance will attract heavy penalties.
