Kenha gives traders 7 days to vacate Thika Superhighway road reserves

The Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) has ordered traders to vacate road reserves along the Thika Superhighway within seven days to make way for new bus bays.

On Monday, the authority announced that scheduled roadworks would take place in both directions at Roysambu and along the Nairobi-bound corridor at Githurai. These works are intended to facilitate the construction of designated bus bays, which are part of Kenha’s wider initiative to enhance road safety and improve traffic flow along this busy highway.

According to Kenha, the new bus bays will provide safe and orderly passenger pick-up and drop-off points, helping to reduce traffic congestion in the affected areas.

“This project is part of our ongoing road safety improvement efforts, which are designed to reduce accidents and ensure an unobstructed flow of traffic along the highway,” read the notice.

Acting Director-General Luka Kimeli urged traders to comply with the set timelines to avoid disruption and ensure the project is completed on time.

Separately, Kenha has directed billboard owners, directional sign operators and utility wayleave holders along national roads to renew their annual permits and pay any outstanding fees within 14 days. The agency warned that non-compliant structures would be removed.

In a public notice issued on Tuesday, Kenha stated that this directive applies to advertisers and utility operators with legal approvals who have not met the permit renewal requirements.

“Kenha hereby notifies all advertisers of billboards, directional signs and utility wayleave owners who have legal approvals to pay their annual renewal fees and settle any outstanding arrears,” the notice stated. It added that all permit renewals would be processed exclusively through the agency’s online portal.

The agency also warned that failure to comply by the deadline of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, would result in enforcement action, including the demolition of unlicensed structures and the recovery of associated costs from owners.

“At the expiry of this period, enforcement action will follow, including the demolition of the structures and the recovery of all related costs, without further reference.”

Owners of roadside developments, advertisers and operators along the A8/B10 highway, from the James Gichuru Road junction to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, have been given 14 days to remove all structures.

This includes billboards, directional and advertising signs, tree nursery beds, and other temporary installations.

In a notice issued last month, Kenha stated that these removals are necessary to enable capacity enhancement, landscaping and beautification works along the corridor.

“All roadside developments, including billboards, directional and advertising signs, tree nursery beds and temporary structures within the road reserve, should be removed within 14 days of the date of this notice to pave the way for the implementation of project works,” it said.

Kenha stated that any structures not removed within the stipulated period would be demolished without further reference to the owners or operators.

The authority said that the project aims to improve traffic flow and safety, as well as enhance the highway’s aesthetic appeal, which links central Nairobi to JKIA.

Owners of billboards, signage and other temporary structures have been urged to comply promptly to avoid removal at their own cost.

The move follows President William Ruto’s announcement of reconstruction and beautification works along Mombasa Road, from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to ABC Place.

Speaking on December 12, 2025, President Ruto said that the initiative aimed to improve road safety, ease traffic congestion, and enhance the appearance of one of Kenya’s busiest highways.

He acknowledged the challenges that motorists have faced on the lower deck of the Mombasa Road Expressway and noted that the increased use of the upper lanes has left the lower road in a poor state of repair.

“Now that the expressway is complete and in use, problems have emerged on the lower road,” Ruto said. “That is why, as we approach Christmas this December, we will start reconstructing and beautifying it so that Nairobi reflects the status of our nation.”

The highways authority began the works on December 19.

In a statement, it said that the project follows a presidential directive to modernise infrastructure around JKIA, to strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional and global gateway.

The project is expected to improve the area’s aesthetic appeal, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance infrastructure quality and safety standards once completed.