Kenya unveils 10-year plan to dual 2,500km of roads, tarmac 28,000km
Ruto said the government will also leverage Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) to modernise airports in Nairobi, Mombasa and Lamu, while addressing operational challenges facing Kenya Airways.
Kenya is embarking on a 10-year plan to transform its transport infrastructure, with the government set to dual 2,500 kilometres of roads and tarmac an additional 28,000 kilometres to boost trade and ease congestion.
President William Ruto announced the ambitious programme during his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, describing it as a key component of efforts to expand the country’s transport and logistics capacity and support economic growth.
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“The plan will ease mobility, unclog major transport corridors and enhance regional trade,” Ruto said.
He added that the government will also leverage Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) to modernise airports in Nairobi, Mombasa and Lamu, while addressing operational challenges facing Kenya Airways.
“This work is already in progress. Next week, I will launch the dualing of the 170-kilometre Rironi–Naivasha–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road,” he said.
“On the same day, I will break ground for the dualing of the 57-kilometre Rironi–Mai Mahiu–Naivasha Road.” He noted that gridlocks that paralyse these corridors, particularly on weekends and holidays, will soon be eliminated.
Other key roads slated for dualing include Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi Road, Machakos Junction–Mariakani Road, Mau Summit–Kericho–Kisumu Road, Kisumu–Busia Road, Mau Summit–Eldoret–Malaba Road, Athi River–Namanga Road, Karatina–Nanyuki–Isiolo Road, Makutano–Embu–Meru–Maua Road, Mtwapa–Malindi–Mombasa–Lunga Lunga Road, Kericho–Kisii–Isebania Road, Nakuru–Nyahururu–Karatina Road and Kisii–Oyugis–Ahero Road.
Ruto emphasised the strategic role of transport and logistics in Kenya’s development, saying they are the backbone of the country’s competitiveness.
“They accelerate national development, connect products to markets, move goods and services, lower the cost of doing business and reinforce Kenya as the aviation and commercial capital of East and Central Africa,” he said.
He cited Japan’s post-war road expansion as a model, noting that while Kenya has constructed just 22,000 kilometres of roads over a similar period, Japan built over a million kilometres of paved roads in seven decades.
The president also outlined plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and eventually Malaba starting in January 2026. He estimated that achieving the four national priorities, including transport, will require at least Sh5 trillion.
“These projects are our national imperatives; commitments we must embrace without hesitation. Not because they are easy. Not because they are cheap. But because they are necessary. Because they are worthy,” Ruto said.
“This is the assignment of our generation; this is the purpose of this administration and this parliament, the 13th Parliament, and this is the moment we must rise to.”
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