The Cabinet has approved the upgrading of the Rironi-Mau Summit road from a two-way single carriageway to a four-lane dual carriageway a move meant to decongest the traffic in the busy highway.
Groundbreaking for the project, according to a Cabinet dispatch on Tuesday, is planned in June. Construction will take two years with a target completion date of June, 2027 two months to the General Elections.
“This road development is expected to ease transport and travel from Nairobi through Nakuru to Western Kenya, a route that has long suffered from serious traffic congestion on weekends and during national holidays,” reads the Cabinet dispatch.
The road witnessed the worst traffic during the December festive season as thousands of Kenyans who were yearning to spend Christmas with their extended families in the countryside were caught up in the traffic.
Most travelers were forced to spend the night on the road while others were forced to start their journey as early as midnight to beat the snarl up at the 170km road. It has been an annual phenomenon.
The Cabinet in its approval of the project said the completion of the road will drive economic growth.
“The project, which is set for completion within 24 months, with a target date of June 2027, is part of Kenya’s broader infrastructure transformation aimed at enhancing connectivity across the country and the region while driving economic growth,” reads the Cabinet dispatch.
Speaking in December last year, President William Ruto had promised that the works of the road will begin in this New Year.
“The commitment that I want to give you is that next year, we will begin the construction of a dual carriageway from Nairobi, first to Nakuru and then from Nakuru later we will take it to Malaba,” President said.
The announcement comes after increased complaints from motorists, particularly during the holiday season, when heavy traffic caused hours-long delays.
The Nairobi-Nakuru-Malaba highway is a critical link between Kenya and its neighbours in the East African region, facilitating trade and movement.
The Cabinet also announced that the journey to transform Bomas of Kenya into a world-class conferencing hub will begin in two weeks, a move that now ends the claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the facility has been sold to a Turkish International.
The Cabinet said the works at the Bomas International Convention Complex will begin in two weeks, marking a major milestone in the government’s plan to transform the facility into a world-class conferencing hub.
“The project aims to redefine the look, feel, and purpose of Bomas, positioning it as a premier destination for global events,” reads the dispatch.
On Monday, the government through Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir dismissed claims by Mr Gachagua that Bomas of Kenya had be en sold to a Turkish national.
In a statement, Ms Bashir said the facility is undergoing modernisation to become a global conference and cultural hub.
Ms Bashir explained that the government is implementing the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) project, which was approved by the Cabinet on August 8, 2023, as part of a long-standing plan to upgrade the facility.
In its meeting, the Cabinet also ordered the removal of asbestos from all government and private buildings to mitigate health risks with property owners expected to bear the attendant costs.
Asbestos is said to cause mesothelioma, a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen, and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary.
Among buildings that still have asbestos roofing in Nairobi include the Kenya Railways Corporation, Kenyatta University, Kenya Medical Training College, Kenyatta National Hospital and Deliverance Church in Umoja.
The cabinet also approved the elevation of the iconic Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to a national teaching and referral facility and its establishment as a State corporation.
Talanta stadium, which is one of the stadiums that the country is putting in place as it gears to host the delayed 2024 African Nations Championships (Chan) is now 40 per cent complete.
“Once finished, the 60,000-seater stadium will be Kenya’s largest, with the government aiming to complete it by the end of this year. This underscores its commitment to modernising sports infrastructure,” reads the Cabinet dispatch.
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host the championship in August.
The Cabinet has also endorsed the Internship and volunteer policy and guidelines for Public Service, providing a standardised framework to streamline the recruitment, engagement, and management of interns and volunteers across government institutions.
The policy addresses inconsistencies in existing fragmented programmes, ensuring fair terms of engagement while creating structured pathways for youth employment.
The programme also formalises volunteerism in public service, recognising its critical role in disaster response, national development, and community service.
