KeNHA warns traders operating on Thika Road reserve to vacate

The Kenya National Highways Authority has warned traders operating within the road reserve along the Thika Superhighway to vacate the area or face enforcement action.

KeNHA said its Corridor C Management team, led by Road Inspector Kennedy Karimi, has recirculated road reserve enforcement notices to traders operating at Delview, Kihunguro and Allsops along the busy highway.

The authority noted that it had earlier issued a notice on February 23, 2026, directing traders occupying sections of the road reserve to vacate within a specified period.

However, KeNHA said some traders have continued operating within the restricted zones despite the expiry of the notice.

“This action follows the lapse of the notice issued on 23rd February 2026, which directed the affected traders to vacate the encroached sections within a specified period. The traders are required to clear the areas to allow for the restoration and protection of the road reserve.

However, some still remain within the restricted zones even after the deadline expired. The exercise forms part of the Authority’s ongoing road safety and corridor management initiatives aimed at reducing accidents along the busy highway corridor,” KeNHA said in a statement.

KeNHA explained that the enforcement exercise forms part of its ongoing road safety and corridor management initiatives aimed at reducing accidents along the busy highway corridor.

The authority said clearing the road reserve will also enhance order within the area, ensure unobstructed traffic flow on national highways and protect infrastructure designated for highway operations and future expansion.

KeNHA warned that it will proceed with the clearance and removal of illegal structures within the road reserve if traders fail to comply with the directive.

The Kenya National Highways Authority is mandated to manage, develop, rehabilitate and maintain national highways across the country.

On February 24, KeNHA issued a fresh notice directing all roadside traders operating along sections of the busy Thika Superhighway to vacate within seven days to pave the way for infrastructure upgrades.

In the notice, KeNHA specifically targeted traders operating at Kihunguro (both bounds), Allsops (both bounds), and the Delview sections, ordering them to remove and clear their wares from the road reserve within a week from the date of the notice.

KeNHA Director General Luka Kimeli said the move is intended to facilitate the construction of designated roadside stations along the highway.

According to Kimeli, the planned works are part of broader efforts to streamline transport operations and reduce accidents along one of the country’s busiest road corridors.

“The project is part of the Authority's ongoing road safety improvement initiatives that seek to reduce accidents, enhance order within the road reserve, and ensure the unobstructed flow of traffic along the Highway,” he said.

The Authority noted that the reclaimed spaces will be used for infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of bus bays along the Thika Superhighway, as well as measures to improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians.

KeNHA warned that enforcement action would be taken against those who fail to comply within the stipulated timeframe, in accordance with laws governing road reserves.