Members of the Nairobi City County Assembly have welcomed ongoing partnership with the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) for fast-tracking for road construction and upgrades across the capital.
The legislators welcomed the ongoing programme to upgrade at least one kilometre of road in each of the 85 wards in Nairobi, noting that the initiative is already improving accessibility and easing movement of residents.
Speaking during deliberations on infrastructure development in the county, Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok said the collaboration between the county leadership and KURA will significantly improve road transport in the capital.
Imwatok noted that many estates have for years suffered from poor road networks that hinder movement, increase travel time and slow down economic activities.
“The partnership between the county leadership and KURA will greatly improve road transport in Nairobi.
Upgrading at least one kilometre of road in every ward ensures development reaches residents at the grassroots,” said Imwatok.
The Majority Leader added that the programme will improve access to schools, hospitals, markets and business premises, while also boosting economic activity within neighbourhoods.
The praise by the MCAs follows the successful completion of several road upgrades across the city.
According to the legislators, improved roads in residential estates will reduce traffic congestion on major highways by providing alternative routes within neighbourhoods.
Apart from ward projets,KURA has been undertaking several road infrastructure projects across Nairobi aimed at modernising the city’s transport network and improving safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Among the major ongoing projects is the Valley Road–Kenyatta Avenue–Ngong Road–Nyerere Road Interchange, which includes the construction of a viaduct and major road upgrades to ease congestion within the city centre.
The project also incorporates the Upper Hill–Haile Selassie Overpass and improvements to surrounding road networks to streamline traffic flow between the Central Business District and Upper Hill.
KURA has also planned the rehabilitation of key urban roads such as State House Road, a crucial route linking the Central Business District with government offices and the Presidential residence, in a project expected to improve traffic flow along the busy corridor
Beyond flagship projects, the authority has been implementing routine maintenance, Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) corridors and periodic upgrades covering hundreds of kilometres of roads within Nairobi.
This comes at a time the county and national government have entered into a cooperation deal to boost service delivery among them infrastructure upgrades critical for expanding the City metropolis.
MCAs said the ward-based road upgrade initiative will not only ease movement within estates but will also open up previously inaccessible areas to business opportunities.
They observed that improved roads will encourage investment, raise property values and make neighbourhoods more attractive to developers.
The legislators urged KURA to maintain the pace of construction to ensure that all wards benefit from the programme within the planned timelines.
They also called for closer collaboration between the county government and national road agencies to ensure sustainable urban mobility and better planning for the capital’s growing population.
