Kasarani Residents Demand Answers as Footpaths Take Priority Over Broken Roads

Ongoing works on the Kasarani-Mwiki road have left many Nairobi residents questioning why footpaths and cycle tracks are being built before the road itself gets fixed. The stretch, running from Roysambu roundabout on Thika Road to Njiru, ranks among the busiest routes in Nairobi County.

The road serves thousands of residents living in surrounding estates including Kasarani, Hunters, Sunton, Mwiki and Njiru. It has long suffered from poor drainage, narrow lanes and persistent potholes, leaving many residents struggling with daily commutes.

Recent construction between Roysambu roundabout and St. Francis Hospital initially raised hopes of a better road ahead. Concerns emerged after residents learned the works form part of the Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) Infrastructure Project rather than a carriageway upgrade.

Kasarani Member of Parliament Ronald Karauri said the project covers designated corridors across Nairobi Metropolitan Area's five counties, with a footpath and cycle track being built along the Thika Road to St. Francis stretch. He described the addition as especially welcome for the thousands of students and residents who walk the route daily, giving them a dedicated path off the main carriageway.

According to Karauri, the project includes a 1.5-metre cabro-paved cycle track, a 2-metre cabro-paved footpath, traffic bollards separating motorised vehicles from the NMT corridor, street lighting, canopies, shelters, benches and signage at key points along the route.

Despite welcoming the addition, many residents question why the road itself has not been widened and properly resurfaced alongside the new pedestrian infrastructure. Around the Maternity area, drainage remains either blocked or entirely absent, with furniture traders having built structures directly over drainage channels, leaving sewage water stagnating beneath.

Karauri said the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) will soon begin separate repair works on the Kasarani-Mwiki carriageway itself, promising residents a broadly improved road experience once that work is complete. Many residents remain cautious, saying similar promises have gone unfulfilled before.