Kenya has set out a fresh drive to overhaul its transport system over the next decade, outlining a programme that will expand key highways, open new road links and improve major airports across the country.
The plan, revealed by President William Ruto during his State of the Nation Address, marks one of the broadest attempts yet to improve movement of people and goods and ease pressure on heavily used routes.
Ruto told Parliament that the government intends to dual 2,500 kilometres of core roads, while a further 28,000 kilometres will be tarmacked to improve access in both urban and rural regions.
He said the scale of the works is guided by the need to resolve traffic congestion on routes that connect strategic towns and border points. “The plan will ease mobility, unclog major transport corridors and enhance regional trade,” Ruto said.
As part of the rollout, the government will team up with private investors to rebuild airports in Nairobi, Mombasa and Lamu under Public–Private Partnerships. Ruto noted that the initiative also aims to resolve the challenges facing Kenya Airways, saying the aviation sector plays a central role in linking the country to global markets.
The president confirmed that actual work begins next week when he is scheduled to launch the dualing of the 170-kilometre Rironi–Naivasha–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road.
“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 said both roads have become known for long queues during busy days and that expansion will help restore steady movement for travellers and transporters.
The government’s plan also includes a wide list of roads marked for dualing, among them 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 said Kenya’s growth depends heavily on a network that allows goods to reach markets quickly and at lower cost. “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 also recalled that Kenya’s past road expansion has been slow compared to countries like Japan, which put up over a million kilometres of paved roads in seven decades. He said Kenya has put up only 22,000 kilometres within a similar period.
Ruto added that the government will proceed with plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and later Malaba beginning January 2026. He said the entire package of national priorities, including roads, airports and rail, will take at least Sh5 trillion to complete.
“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.
He added that the projects define the task of the current leadership, saying, “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.”
