NAIROBI — A major road linking Nairobi to the greater Rift Valley is nearing completion, offering hope to commuters and businesses long plagued by traffic bottlenecks and poor access.
The 70-kilometre Ngong–Suswa Road, which cuts through Kajiado North and Kajiado West, is now 90 percent complete, according to Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
Once finished, the road is expected to ease the burden on the Nairobi–Mai Mahiu highway, one of the country’s most congested corridors.
“This is not just a road project,” Dr Omollo told reporters on Tuesday during an inspection tour. “It’s an economic lifeline that will link Nairobi to Narok, Bomet, Kisii, Kericho and the wider Nyanza region. The benefits go well beyond transport.”
The Ngong–Suswa road, part of the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), is being closely watched as a test of President William Ruto’s promise to improve rural infrastructure and support regional trade.
Sections such as Ngong–Kibiku are already taking shape, with workers racing to meet final construction milestones.
More Than Just Tarmac
Beyond easing travel, the road is quietly reshaping the local economy.
In towns and trading centres along the route, new petrol stations, markets and shopping kiosks are sprouting. Land prices have shot up, and real estate developers are taking notice. Residents report increased interest from investors and an influx of job opportunities tied to construction.
“Before this road, it would take us hours to get produce to market,” said Peter Langat, a vegetable trader in Suswa. “Now, buyers come to us. It’s changing everything.”
The livestock trade has also picked up, with easier transport connecting herders in Kajiado and Narok to meat processors and abattoirs in Nairobi.
Farmers say the new road helps them move perishables like milk and vegetables faster, reducing waste and increasing profits.
Persistent Gaps Remain
Still, the enthusiasm is tempered by concerns.
Locals have raised questions about road safety, including the lack of pedestrian walkways in some sections and poor signage in hilly areas.
Others worry that the sudden surge in land prices may push out smallholder farmers who can no longer afford to stay on their land.
In response, the Ministry of Roads has promised to address these gaps before the road is fully opened to the public.
The project, funded by the national government, is expected to be completed later this year. Once open, it will offer a much-needed alternative for thousands of travelers avoiding the ever-busy Nakuru and Mai Mahiu corridors especially during holiday and market seasons.
“We are on the home stretch,” said Dr Omollo. “This road will soon be a gateway not just for goods and people, but for the growth we have long needed.”
Whether that promise holds, especially for the communities it cuts through, remains to be seen. But for now, the signs are hopeful and the tarmac is almost ready.
