The Motorist Association of Kenya (MAK) has rejected the Cabinet approval of the dualling of the 23.5-kilometre Muthaiga-Kiambu-Ndumberi road (Kiambu Road).

In a statement, MAK said the Cabinet’s decision sounds shiny on paper. Still, there are several sober, evidence-based reasons why the policy should not be rushed just to tick a political box before elections.

MAK said a dual carriageway is not a magic wand and comes with real social, economic, and environmental consequences that must be understood before any bulldozer touches the road.

The Association said the very nature of a dual carriageway changes the entire character of a corridor.

According to MAK, the local business ecosystem along the road will take a direct hit once the government brings in high-speed and divided traffic.

MAK said Kiambu Road is a thriving commercial strip with malls, car showrooms, entertainment joints, nurseries, fuel stations, and hundreds of small enterprises that depend on slow and accessible traffic.

It explained that dualling the road typically requires massive land acquisition, service road redesigns, and removal of roadside establishments.

“Examples globally show that high-speed divided highways disconnect people from the businesses right next to them. You’re basically turning a living commercial ecosystem into a through-corridor for distant-bound cars,” MAK said.

Kiambu Road Needs Order

MAK stated that Kiambu Road needs order and not asphalt expansion.

The Association said the Road needs a modern public transport system that replaces the chaos of matatus with clean, predictable buses running on dedicated lanes.

Additionally, MAK said Kiambu Road needs proper pedestrian walkways and continuous cycle lanes.

“It needs safe, signalised crossings so residents don’t risk their lives daily. A BRT pilot here would work wonders and would solve congestion without destroying the economic life of the corridor,” MAK said.

MAK asked the government to conduct a genuine feasibility study, a real environmental impact assessment, and a socio-economic audit before expansion.

It emphasized that the Constitution requires public participation, and people along Kiambu Road have a right to understand what will be taken, what will be relocated, and what impact will follow them for decades.

“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. It is one of the most economically active and socially vibrant corridors in Kenya,” it added.

Also Read: Muthaiga-Kiambu-Ndumberi to Be Expanded into Dual Carriageway, Says Cabinet

Impacts on Pedestrians and Locals

MAK also raised the potential impacts of dualling the road on pedestrian life and local mobility.

It stated that there is a universal characteristic of dual highways that once cars begin cruising at 80 km/h, pedestrians, cyclists, boda bodas, and residents find themselves trapped on either side.

The Association said such is followed by speed bumps, rumble strips, guard rails, red signs, and footbridges, resulting in the same congestion the government claims to be solving.

“If you introduce a high-speed corridor into a densely inhabited stretch like Runda, Ridgeways, Kiambu Town, and Ndumberi, your ‘mobility improvement’ becomes a safety crisis. You slow the same road you expanded,” MAK stated.

Chronic Congestion Context

MAK mentioned that the narrative of “chronic congestion” needs context.

It pointed out that Kiambu Road’s worst traffic is only during morning peak hours heading to Nairobi with movement is slow but steady in the evening.

“This is classic commuter behaviour. You don’t blow up a working road because of a two-hour morning experience. You solve the root cause of that specific peak demand. Globally, this is where Bus Rapid Transit, modern buses, and dedicated transit lanes do the heavy lifting. Not more tarmac. Not more lanes. Congestion is a transport management issue, not a lane-count issue,” it added.

Also Read: Motorists Warned of Four-Day Traffic Disruptions in Nairobi CBD

Dual Carriage Attracting More Drivers

MAK also said Kiambu Road will attract more drivers once the expansion is complete.

It stated that every time a government widens a road, drivers who used other routes flock to it.

The Association said trips that were not necessary suddenly become “possible.”

Soon, MAK said the new dual highway carries even more cars than the old two-lane road, and congestion returns in a bigger form.

It claimed that this is the reason why wealthy neighbourhoods like Karen, Muthaiga, Lower Kabete, Kitisuru fiercely protect their narrow, tree-lined roads.

“They know that bigger roads invite more traffic, more chaos, more outsiders, and fundamentally change the area’s tranquillity.”

Kiambu Road is of High Quality

Lastly, MAK said Kiambu Road is already, by Kenyan standards, a high-quality corridor.

It said the amenities from Muthaiga to Ndumberi reflect a first-world urban strip: malls, showrooms, social spaces, schools, hospitals, and recreation facilities.

“People don’t flock to Karen or Rosslyn or Kiambu Road because the roads are big. They come because the roads are functional, human, calm, and integrated with businesses. Turning Kiambu Road into a high-speed express corridor threatens exactly what makes it valuable.”

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President William Ruto is chairing a cabinet meeting on November 11, 2025. PHOTO/PCS.