The government has announced the completion of the 66-kilometre Ngong–Suswa Highway, offering an alternative route for motorists heading out of Nairobi to the Rift Valley and Nyanza Region.
The road cuts across Kajiado North and Kajiado West sub-counties and will provide an alternative route for travellers going to Narok, Bomet, Kisii, Kericho, and parts of Nyanza.
In a statement on Wednesday, December 3, the State Department for Roads announced that the road will be fundamental in easing traffic along the busy Mai Mahiu escarpment road, while also improving safety standards for travellers.
The department is also optimistic that the new route will not only improve connectivity but also unlock the economic potential of the Rift Valley and Nyanza region through trade, tourism, and community growth.
"The 66-kilometre Ngong–Suswa Highway is now complete, offering travellers and transporters a modern, safer, and more direct alternative route out of Nairobi through Ngong. The new corridor provides relief from the busy Mai Mahiu escarpment road, ensuring smoother journeys and improved safety standards," the department stated.
"The highway is expected to transform connectivity across the region, unlocking opportunities for trade, tourism, and community growth along its route. With scenic views and open stretches, the road is set to become a favourite for road-trip enthusiasts, combining convenience with an enjoyable driving experience," it added.
Earlier this year, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said that the value of land along the new project has skyrocketed, and infrastructure such as petrol stations, markets, and service centres have begun to take shape.
"The ongoing construction of the Ngong-Suswa Road, a transport corridor cutting across Kajiado North and Kajiado West Sub-Counties, is a key investment under the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)," Omollo stated.
"The project is 90 per cent complete and is expected to be fully operational soon, with notable progress in sections such as Ngong Kibiku," he added.
The announcement comes barely a week after President William Ruto launched the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Road (A8) and the Nairobi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha Project.
Ruto, who launched the Ksh170 billion project on Friday, November 28, said that the project will utilise the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, positioning Kenya as a leader in innovative financing and modern transport.
"Relying on the national budget was impossible, as a single highway could consume nearly half of the entire annual development budget," the Head of State said.
He added that “The decision to proceed with the Public-private partnership (PPP) model is a strategy to break those chains, allowing the government to work smarter and in partnership with the private sector."
