By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, June 29, 2026 - President William Ruto has said Nairobi's notorious traffic congestion is costing the country valuable time, money and productivity, as he commissioned the new Sh3.8 billion Ngong Road–Naivasha Road flyover.
Speaking during the launch on Monday, Ruto described the new overpass as more than a transport project, saying it is an economic investment designed to help people spend less time in traffic and more time at work, with their families and running businesses.
"For too long, congestion has imposed a heavy cost on our economy and on the daily lives of our people. It has delayed workers on their way to earning a living, increased the cost of doing business, kept traders away from customers and taken precious time away from families," the President said.
He noted that traffic jams have long slowed economic activity in the capital, arguing that every hour spent on the road translates into lost income and missed opportunities.
"Congestion is not merely a transport challenge but an economic one," Ruto said. "Every hour spent in traffic translates into lost productivity, delayed income and missed opportunities."
The flyover, constructed by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), is expected to eliminate one of Nairobi's busiest traffic bottlenecks by separating traffic at the Ngong Road–Naivasha Road junction near Junction Mall.
The project, financed through a loan from Spain's Corporate International Fund (FIEM), also includes pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes to improve safety for non-motorised road users.
"This is what modern infrastructure should do: reduce travel time, lower the cost of transport, improve road safety and make cities work better for everyone," Ruto said.
The President thanked the Government and people of Spain for supporting the project, describing the partnership as one built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to Kenya's development.
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The commissioning comes as the government pushes ahead with several major transport projects aimed at easing congestion across the capital.
Ruto said construction of the Sh3 billion Upper Hill–Kenyatta Avenue flyover is now 60 per cent complete and will improve access to Nairobi's central business district.
He also announced the upgrading of State House Road through a Sh1.6 billion project and the construction of Sh3.9 billion access roads to Talanta Sports City ahead of next year's Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
The President further revealed plans to dual the 23.5-kilometre Kiambu Road corridor from Muthaiga to Kiambu at an estimated cost of 221 million US dollars (about Sh30 billion).
He added that a 60 million US dollar (approximately Sh7.9 billion) intelligent traffic management centre is also under construction to improve traffic flow across Nairobi.
According to Ruto, the ongoing investments are intended to build a modern transport network capable of supporting Nairobi's growing population while improving mobility, productivity and the city's overall competitiveness.