The Cabinet has given the green light to the dualling of the 20.2-kilometre Nairobi Northern Bypass in a move aimed at decongesting the city and improving road safety.
The project, approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, is expected to significantly reduce traffic snarl-ups along one of the capital’s busiest corridors.
The bypass links Ruaka in Kiambu County to Ruiru and connects to both the Western and Eastern bypasses.
Currently, the Nairobi Northern Bypass remains the only single-carriageway bypass in the city, often leading to long travel times, accidents, and limited access to key industrial and economic zones.
“The upgrade marks a strategic investment in Nairobi’s infrastructure network, improving mobility between counties and bolstering access to essential services,” the Cabinet noted in a statement.
The ambitious upgrade will feature the construction of eight new interchanges, as well as a series of overpasses and underpasses.
In a bid to make the road safer and more inclusive, the project also includes provisions for non-motorised transport infrastructure—walkways and cycle paths—alongside improved drainage and upgrades to adjoining roads.
Nairobi residents and transport stakeholders have long called for the expansion of the Northern Bypass, citing mounting congestion and frequent accidents.
The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny over infrastructure spending and national debt, but government officials argue the project will deliver long-term economic gains by unlocking traffic bottlenecks and reducing transportation costs.
The development is set to benefit not only Nairobi and Kiambu counties but also regional logistics and commuter flows, given its strategic linkage with the Northern Corridor transport route.
Construction timelines and tendering details are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
