Kenha to clear all illegal structures on Thika Superhighway

The Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) has started clearing illegal structures along sections of the busy Thika Superhighway following the lapse of earlier eviction notices, in a move aimed at improving road safety and easing chronic congestion.

The exercise started in Githurai on Friday, where traders and informal operators had encroached on the road reserve, obstructing pedestrian movement and disrupting traffic flow. 

The clearance, Kenha said, will pave the way for the construction of a modern bus park designed to streamline public transport operations in the densely populated area.

It said the targeted structures had over time created significant safety hazards for motorists and pedestrians within the bustling market zone, which records heavy human and vehicular traffic daily.

“The structures had encroached onto the road reserve, posing serious safety risks to thousands of road users,” the authority said in a statement. 

The section, it added, has recorded numerous road safety incidents.

The planned Githurai facility will provide a designated space for buses and matatus to safely pick up and drop off passengers, reducing the disorderly stopping along the highway that has contributed to traffic snarl-ups and accidents.

According to Kenha, the project will also improve access between Githurai Roundabout and the superhighway, strengthening connectivity and significantly easing congestion along one of the country’s busiest transport corridors.

“The modern bus park will enhance order, efficiency and traffic flow along the corridor, while improving the overall travel experience for commuters,” the authority added.

A similar clearance will be carried out at Roysambu roundabout to pave the way for another modern bus terminus, part of broader efforts to upgrade transport infrastructure and promote safer mobility along the Thika Road corridor.

The enforcement follows the expiry of a seven-day notice issued on February 10 to traders and operators occupying the road reserve. 

However, the exercise sparked protests on Wednesday with some affected traders engaging in a confrontation with the police.

A section of them accused authorities of moving ahead without providing adequate alternative spaces for business.

Some traders temporarily blocked sections of access roads at Githurai, demanding more time to relocate and calling for dialogue with government agencies.

“We are not against development, but the government should give us a clear relocation plan,” said one trader during the demonstrations, noting many families depend on these businesses for survival.

But Kenha maintained that the action was necessary to restore the integrity of the road reserve and enhance public safety, noting that the structures had been put up illegally despite prior warnings.

“The road reserve is meant for transport infrastructure and safety provisions, not commercial activities,” Kenha officials involved in the operation said. 

They said their priority was to protect lives and improve the efficiency of this critical national corridor.

Thika Superhighway remains one of the busiest highways in the country, serving thousands of commuters daily between Nairobi and its rapidly growing satellite towns including Githurai, Kahawa, Roysambu and Ruiru.

Transport planners say lack of designated public transport bays, combined with roadside trading and pedestrian congestion, has been a major contributor to traffic bottlenecks and frequent accidents along the corridor.

Kenha said the planned bus parks form part of ongoing interventions to modernise public transport infrastructure, improve traffic management and support the growing demand for mobility in the Nairobi metropolitan region.

“The developments are aimed at creating safer, more organised transport systems while supporting long-term urban mobility solutions,” the authority said.

The enforcement follows the expiry of a seven-day notice issued on February 10 to traders and operators occupying the road reserve.