KURA to remove unlawful signboards, kiosks along Eastern Bypass
The Eastern Bypass is a critical transport artery linking Nairobi and Kiambu suburbs. Its upgrade into a dual carriageway has encouraged commercial growth, with many businesses erecting billboards, kiosks, and other installations that have increasingly encroached on public land.
The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has announced a major operation to remove unlicensed billboards and other structures that have sprung up along the Eastern Bypass Corridor.
In a statement, the agency highlighted that many of these installations were put up without approval, creating hazards for drivers and pedestrians while spoiling the visual appeal of the corridor.
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“It has come to our attention that the Eastern Bypass Corridor has been extensively occupied with signboards, many of which pose safety risks to road users and compromise the urban aesthetics of the area. A significant number of these installations have been erected unlawfully on public land,” the statement reads.
The authority said the initiative aims to reclaim road reserves and ensure the corridor remains safe and orderly. "KURA will be undertaking a clean-up exercise to restore order along the corridor," it added.
Ahead of the operation, KURA has scheduled a stakeholders’ meeting for Thursday, September 18, at 10 am. The session will bring together Nairobi and Kiambu County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, local chiefs, and business owners along the route to coordinate the plan.
The Eastern Bypass is a critical transport artery linking Nairobi and Kiambu suburbs. Its upgrade into a dual carriageway has encouraged commercial growth, with many businesses erecting billboards, kiosks, and other installations that have increasingly encroached on public land.
While the expansion completed in 2021 reduced traffic congestion along the 28-kilometre stretch, the road remains among Nairobi’s most accident-prone, alongside Thika Superhighway, Waiyaki Way, Outering Road, and Northern Bypass.
The dualling of the bypass began in November 2020 after the signing of a contract between KURA and the China Communication Construction Company, which will be completing the Sh12.5 billion project.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the Eastern Bypass on July 31, 2022.
The bypass dualling project was among 11 major infrastructure initiatives Kenya showcased to international investors during the Belt and Road forum in Beijing in May 2017.
Nairobi Eastern Bypass connects Mombasa Road to Thika Super Highway at Kamakis, traversing through Embakasi, Utawala, Ruai and Ruiru towns, and was expanded as part of sustained Government efforts to decongest Nairobi.
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