President William Ruto has announced that the government will build a new 60-kilometre expressway connecting Nairobi City to Thika town in Kiambu County.
Speaking during the 62nd Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, December 12, the President said the new road will help ease traffic on the current Thika Road, which is often heavily congested.
Ruto explained that the expressway will start near the Nairobi Expressway at the Museum Hill interchange and end in Thika town. Construction is set to begin in 2026.
“A lot of Kenyans live in Thika, and the current Thika road is very congested. Many vehicles use that road every day. I want to announce that next year, we will construct an expressway from Thika to Nairobi at Museum Hill,” the President said.
He did not give an exact start date but said the project is a priority because thousands of commuters face daily delays travelling between Nairobi and neighbouring counties.
The President also revealed plans to build more major roads linking Nairobi to counties such as Kajiado and Machakos, as part of a wider effort to improve transport across the region.
The announcement comes at a time when Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi is pushing for Thika town to be recognised as Kenya’s fifth city after Nakuru.
This is not the first time government plans for a Nairobi–Thika expressway have been discussed. In August last year, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) shared early plans for a new road linking the two towns.
At the time, Governor Wamatangi said the project would help transform Thika into an industrial smart city by easing congestion and improving movement within the area. However, no timelines were provided then.
If completed as planned, the new expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time, support business growth, and improve daily commuting for thousands of Kenyans.
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