Major Transport Bottleneck Set to Ease as Gitaru Interchange Nears Completion

An aerial shot of one of the roundabouts of the Gitaru Interchange.

The persistent gridlock around Gitaru could soon be a thing of the past as the construction of Gitaru Interchange reaches its final stage, unlocking one of the country’s biggest bottlenecks.

In its latest project brief, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) states that the Gitaru Interchange, which links the Southern Bypass, Western Bypass and the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, is 85 per cent complete.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Director General Engineer Luka Kimeli said the interchange will allow continuous traffic flow, reduce travel time and ease congestion.

According to Eng. Kimeli, Gitaru Interchange is one of 580 stalled road projects that President William Ruto recently revived through the securitisation of fuel levy, paving the way for contractors to return to their sites.

He attributed the success of the project to the securitisation of the fuel levy, which enabled the government to get the contractors back on site, breathing life into some 580 road projects that had stalled.

“In line with the President’s directive, the government is completing stalled road projects regardless of when they began or which administration started the road project because the government is perpetual,” he pointed out.

He said the project, which is designed in the shape of the distinctive clover plant connected to a single stem, will be completed by June 30, 2026.

“One fun fact about the Gitaru interchange is the distinctive design inspired by a small, common plant that you all know, the four-loop cloverleaf, often regarded as a weed and known by different names,” he explained.

The project comprises four loops, that is: Loop 1, which is located at the North-Eastern, Loop 2 (South-Eastern), Loop 3 (South-Western) and Loop 4 at the North-Western side, offering motorists and travellers seamless connectivity.

For a long time, heavy traffic jams have been witnessed in the area as heavy commercial vehicles scrambled for space with small cars, matatus, boda bodas and pedestrians but a new era is now in the offing.

At the same time, locals have expressed enthusiasm, saying that the project is long overdue, noting that it is going to solve a long-standing transport challenge within Nairobi Metropolitan and by also easing traffic entering and exiting the capital.

Mr George Larama expressed confidence that the Gitaru Interchange is a key cog in easing traffic gridlocks within Nairobi city and its environs.

“If you go to Mombasa Road, it is easy. And those who go towards Ruaka, it is easy because the road is good. Then when this elevation ends, joining the road towards Nairobi will be easy because it is a big circuit,” said Larama, a businessman based in Gitaru.

“In the past, people used to go up to Zambezi in order to make a turn to Nairobi. But when someone comes from Kikuyu, this intervention will be very good… yes, I am telling you it is now easy going to Nairobi,” he stated.

Noting that the Gitaru Interchange will significantly reduce the time spent on the road, Larama maintained that it also spurs growth, saying: “This road has helped a lot. When the remaining part is completed, it will benefit people even more.”

“If someone comes from Kikuyu or if you want to go to Kikuyu, it becomes very simple. Now we would like this section to be completed too, so that now the task of going anywhere would be easier,” he added.

For his part, Apostle Paul Mosoti described it as the biggest ‘roundabout’ he has ever seen owing to the magnitude of the project. “This is the biggest roundabout in Kenya; there is no other project like this one in Kenya,” he said.

“This road project is called interchange; they have built it very well and it will bring good things and development because it connects with many parts of the country,” he affirmed.

Last week, President Ruto announced plans to expand the country’s road network by 100 per cent in the next seven years, saying only a paltry 20,000 kilometres of roads have been tarmacked since independence.

Speaking during the New Year Diplomatic Briefing at State House, Nairobi, on February 9, President Ruto outlined a comprehensive transformation agenda, saying an additional 28,000 kilometres will be targeted during the period.

Highlighting the significance of good roads to the economy, the Head of State said tarmacking of roads will ease connectivity and spur economic growth.

“We are already on course, we have mapped out what the areas are and we believe that we can raise the resources to undertake this transformation,” President Ruto said.