Just a week after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), confirmed the receipt of funding from the China Export-Import (EXIM) Bank for the long-awaited expansion of Kiambu Road, the state corporation has unexpectedly cancelled the project without providing an official explanation.

The proposed upgrade was aimed at transforming the heavily congested Pangani–Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi (B32) Road from a two-lane single carriageway into a four-lane dual carriageway.

This road, notorious for weekday traffic snarls, had raised hopes among commuters and residents who saw the project as a long-overdue solution to daily gridlock.

“The Government of Kenya has received commitment from China through the China Export-Import Bank to finance the cost of the Capacity Enhancement of Pangani–Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi (B32) Road,” KeNHA had announced on July 15, 2025.

According to the initial KeNHA notice dated July 5, the EXIM Bank had committed a Ksh 38.7 billion loan to finance the project.

The expansion plan included the construction of new infrastructure to ease traffic flow, which included bridges and overpasses at Muthaiga Golf Club, Mua Road Overpass, Coffee Garden U-turn, Tala Road Overpass, Ridgeways U-turn, Runda U-turn, and Kirigiti Junction Bridge.

These developments were expected to enhance mobility along Kiambu Road, decongest the adjacent Thika Superhighway, and significantly reduce travel time between Kiambu town and Nairobi City.

While KeNHA is yet to provide a reason for the sudden cancellation, speculation is growing that environmental concerns may have played a role.

Previous attempts to upgrade this corridor have faced opposition due to fears of encroachment on Karura Forest, with more than 50 acres potentially at risk.

As stakeholders await official communication from KeNHA, uncertainty clouds the future of the project that had promised to transform a key transport artery in Nairobi’s rapidly growing suburbs.