President William Ruto on Thursday unveiled an ambitious 10-year infrastructure programme that will see 19 key highways dualled and thousands of kilometres of new roads tarmacked to modernise Kenya’s transport network.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on 20 November 2025, Ruto said the plan involves dualling 2,500km of highways and tarmacking 28,000km of roads, describing it as critical for economic growth and regional competitiveness.
Drawing lessons from Japan
The president invoked Japan’s post-war economic miracle as inspiration.
“History teaches us that nations rise on the strength of transport and logistics. Japan’s post-war revival, enabled by strategic road expansion, is a clear example: from only 2,000km of paved roads, they constructed over a million kilometres in seven decades, while Kenya has built just 22,000km over a similar period,” he said.
Immediate action on flagship projects
Works will start almost immediately. Next week, Ruto will launch dualling of the 170km Rironi-Naivasha-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway and, on the same day, break ground on the 58km Rironi-Maai Mahiu-Naivasha section.
“The gridlock that paralyses these roads every day, especially on weekends and holidays, will soon be history,” he told lawmakers.
The 19 highways earmarked for dualling
The roads selected for upgrade include:
- Muthaiga-Kiambu-Ndumberi
- Machakos Junction-Mariakani
- Mau Summit-Kericho-Kisumu
- Kisumu-Busia
- Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba
- Athi River-Namanga
- Karatina-Nanyuki-Isiolo
- Makutano-Embu-Meru-Maua
- Mtwapa-Malindi
- Mombasa-Lunga Lunga
- Kericho-Kisii-Migori-Isebania
- Nakuru-Nyahururu-Karatina
- Kisii-Oyugis-Ahero
- Northern Bypass
- James Gichuru Road
- Bomas-Karen-Ngong
- Bomas-Ongata Rongai-Kiserian
- Ngong-Isinya
- Naivasha-Kikuyu
Rail and aviation upgrades
Beyond roads, the Standard Gauge Railway will be extended from Naivasha to Kisumu and eventually Malaba, with construction starting in January 2026.
Public-private partnerships will fund modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as well as Mombasa and Lamu ports. Ruto also pledged to resolve operational challenges at Kenya Airways by 2026.
Expected economic benefits
The president said the programme will slash congestion, cut travel times, boost trade, create thousands of jobs and open markets for farmers and businesses currently hampered by poor infrastructure.
