The ambitious 192-kilometre Kibwezi-Migwani-Mbondoni road project has now reached 52 per cent completion, with the government expressing confidence that the highway will be substantially finished by December this year.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Livestock Development, Jonathan Mueke, gave this update after personally inspecting the project on June 28, describing it as a game-changer for the Ukambani region.
This critical infrastructure project, which comes with a price tag of approximately Ksh21.5 billion to Ksh22.2 billion depending on counterpart allocations, is expected to completely transform how business is done in the area.
The road links the bustling Mombasa-Nairobi Highway to the Thika-Garissa Highway, creating a direct alternative route that will save motorists and traders hours of travel time that would otherwise be wasted in Nairobi's notorious traffic jams.
"The road is a key infrastructure project that will boost trade, create jobs and improve livelihoods across Ukambani," Mueke stated after the inspection.
He further added that the project is part of the Government's broader economic transformation agenda, with substantial completion expected by December 2026.
For residents of Makueni and Kitui counties, this upgrade from a rough gravel road to smooth tarmac is nothing short of revolutionary. What used to take several days during the rainy season when vehicles would get stuck in mud will now take just a few hours.
Farmers and traders will finally have reliable access to markets, meaning their produce can reach customers while still fresh, fetching better prices and putting more money in their pockets.
The road cuts through six distinct counties, starting at Kibwezi off the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway. From there, it passes through Makueni and Kitui counties before ending at Mbondoni, where it connects with the Thika-Garissa Highway.
This strategic positioning opens up corridors toward Garissa, Meru, and even as far as Moyale, making it easier for goods and people to move across the region.
Perhaps the most significant impact of this project will be on cargo transportation. Commercial trucks will now have a direct bypass that links the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway to the Thika-Garissa Highway, completely avoiding Nairobi's crippling congestion.
This means goods from the coast can reach northern counties like Garissa, Wajir, and Isiolo much faster, directly supporting the ambitious LAPSSET development agenda.
Kenya National Highways Authority Chairperson Winnie Ngumi, who accompanied the PS during the inspection, confirmed that this project, which had been stalled for years, will finally see completion by December.
This assurance has brought relief to residents and traders who have been waiting for years to benefit from this transformative infrastructure.
The road is not just about transportation—it's about changing lives. It will create jobs during construction and open up new economic opportunities once completed.
Traders will be able to move goods more efficiently, farmers will access better markets, and the entire region will experience economic growth that has been held back for too long by poor roads.
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