NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has intensified enforcement operations along the Njoro–Mau Summit Road (B129), arresting two individuals for illegally cultivating crops within the protected road reserve.
In a statement issued Saturday, the authority said the suspects were apprehended during a compliance operation conducted by officers from its South Rift region under the supervision of the Roads Superintendent, working jointly with the Axle Load Enforcement Unit.
The operation targeted unlawful activities along the road corridor, which officials say threaten road safety and hinder infrastructure maintenance and future expansion.
“KeNHA South Rift Region has taken enforcement action against unlawful activities within the road service along the Njoro–Mau Summit (B129) Road,” the authority said. “Two individuals found cultivating crops within the road reserve were arrested during the operation. The suspects were arraigned in court, and both were convicted.”
According to the authority, the two suspects were later arraigned in court and fined Sh10,000 each, with an alternative sentence of three months imprisonment should they fail to pay the penalty.
KeNHA warned that road reserves are legally protected areas meant to provide safety buffers for highways and facilitate maintenance works and infrastructure upgrades. Activities such as farming, construction, or any form of encroachment within these zones are prohibited.
“Members of the public are urged to respect and keep road reserves clear to ensure safety and allow for road maintenance and future development,” the agency said.
Transport and infrastructure experts note that farming along road reserves can pose serious safety risks. Crops, structures, or farm equipment near highways can obstruct drivers’ visibility, create roadside hazards, and increase the likelihood of accidents, particularly along busy transport corridors.
The enforcement action comes as the government accelerates work on the Sh170 billion expansion of the Rironi–Mau Summit highway, a critical transport corridor linking the capital to the Rift Valley and western Kenya.
The project will upgrade the approximately 170-kilometre stretch into a modern dual carriageway designed to ease traffic congestion and improve regional trade connectivity.
Under the plan, the section between Rironi and Naivasha will be expanded into a four-lane dual carriageway, while the Naivasha–Nakuru segment will be developed into a six-lane highway — a major upgrade from the current two-lane road.
Government officials have indicated that sections of the project are expected to be completed by April 2027, with full completion projected before June of the same year.
