NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 12 – Motorists have opposed the government’s plan to dual the 23.5-kilometre Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi Road, dismissing it as a “pre-election spectacle” that could cripple local businesses and erode the area’s commercial vibrancy.
The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) said in a statement that while the project is being sold as a traffic decongestion measure, it risks becoming a politically timed showpiece with limited transport value and major economic disruption for residents and traders.
“What the Cabinet has announced sounds shiny on paper, but there are several sober, evidence-based reasons why this policy shouldn’t be rushed just to tick a political box before elections,” the statement read.
“Election seasons usually come with cosmetic promises, fresh paint on neglected roads, and quick wins for political optics. But Kiambu Road is not a playground for political grandstanding.”
MAK warned that the proposed dual carriageway would transform the corridor into a high-speed highway, reducing access to small businesses that depend on local, slow-moving traffic.
The group said dualling typically involves large-scale land acquisition, redesign of service roads, and removal of roadside enterprises — actions that would devastate livelihoods and turn a bustling trading zone into a commuter passage.
They also cautioned that pedestrian safety and local mobility would deteriorate once high-speed lanes are introduced, cutting off residents, cyclists, and boda boda riders and creating a potential safety crisis.
The protest follows the Cabinet’s approval on Tuesday of the project to expand the Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi Road, citing its importance in easing congestion and improving connectivity between Nairobi and Kiambu counties.
According to the Cabinet dispatch, the project will feature bypasses, service lanes, loop roads, and facilities for non-motorised transport, forming part of the government’s broader plan to modernise infrastructure within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
