Kenol-Sagana-Marua dual carriageway reaches 93 percent completion

Construction of the 84-kilometre Kenol-Sagana-Marua highway has reached the 93 percent completion mark, signaling the final phase of a major infrastructure upgrade on the Great North Road. The project involves converting the previously single-lane bitumen road into a high-capacity dual carriageway. Designed to handle increased traffic volumes between Nairobi and the Mount Kenya region, the technical specifications focus on long-term durability and the ability to withstand varied weather conditions.

The expansion begins at Kenol and traverses Makutano, Sagana, and Karatina before terminating at the Marua interchange in Nyeri County. Recent inspections of the works, including the complex Marua interchange, indicate that the primary civil engineering components are largely in place. The project is part of the Kenyan section of the Trans-Africa Highway, which serves as a critical link for trade between Nairobi and Ethiopia via the Moyale border.

The Kenya National Highways Authority has integrated several social and economic components into the contract beyond the main road works. This includes the construction of a trauma centre in Sagana, which is intended to provide emergency medical responses along this busy corridor. The project scope also covers the development of modern roadside markets to provide safer trading environments for local vendors, motorcycle sheds for transport operators, and improved access roads to link local communities to the main highway.

Environmental measures have been factored into the delivery, with tree-planting initiatives active across the 84-kilometre stretch. The engineering design includes grade-separated junctions to improve safety at major intersections, reducing the risk of accidents that historically occurred on the older, congested single-carriageway sections.

Funding for the project was secured through a partnership between the Government of Kenya and the African Development Bank, which provided a substantial portion of the financing. The total investment for the corridor and its social amenities is estimated at approximately 257 million euros. While the road primarily serves local agricultural and commercial interests in Central and Eastern Kenya, its role as a segment of the Cairo-to-Cape Town corridor gives it regional importance for cross-border logistics.

As the contractor moves toward the 100 percent completion mark, focus remains on finishing the remaining 7 percent of work. This involves completing the final surfacing, installing road safety signage, and finishing the auxiliary structure,  such as sanitary facilities and market stalls. The project has already seen some sections opened to traffic, which has notably altered travel times for motorists traveling from Nairobi toward Nyeri and Isiolo.

The upgrade is expected to be fully handed over following the completion of these final stages and the operationalization of the Sagana trauma centre. This infrastructure development is part of a wider government plan to enhance domestic connectivity while maintaining the technical standards required for international transit corridors.