The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has unveiled a massive, multi-billion shilling roadmap to resuscitate Nairobi’s crumbling spine, targeting six critical highways for immediate emergency surgery.

Nairobi’s motorists, long besieged by potholes and gridlock, have been handed a lifeline. KeNHA has officially triggered a nationwide road maintenance program for the third quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, but the jewel in the crown is the aggressive focus on the capital. Six major arteries—the lifeblood of the city’s economy—have been red-circled for urgent rehabilitation in a bid to avert a total infrastructural cardiac arrest.

The "Big Six" Fix

Documents seen by this desk confirm the specific targets of this asphalt blitz. Leading the list is the **Nairobi Southern Bypass**, a critical trade route that has lately resembled a minefield. Also slated for major works are the **Kikuyu-Ndenderu-Ruaka** road and the **Athi River-Kyumvi** stretch, both notorious for traffic-choking degradation. These are not minor patch-up jobs; KeNHA is deploying performance-based contracts to ensure that the repairs last longer than the next rainy season.

The timing is political as much as it is practical. With the "El Niño" rains having decimated the road network, public anger has been mounting. This multi-billion shilling injection, funded by the Road Maintenance Levy Fund, is the government’s attempt to pave over the discontent before the next election cycle heats up. "We are not just filling holes; we are restoring the economic velocity of the city," a KeNHA insider revealed.

• The Southern Bypass Priority: As a key diversion for heavy trucks, its repair is critical to decongesting the city center.
• Economic Impact: The Athi River-Kyumvi repair is directly aimed at smoothing the logistics flow from the Port of Mombasa into the industrial heartland.
• Contractor Scrutiny: KeNHA has introduced stricter compliance checks to weed out "cowboy contractors" who have historically delivered substandard work.

A Race Against Time

The scale of the project is immense. Over 100 road sections nationwide are targeted, but the Nairobi 6 are the litmus test. Success here means a smoother commute and a booming economy; failure means gridlock and political fallout.

As the heavy machinery rolls out this week, Nairobi enters a period of "short-term pain for long-term gain." KeNHA has urged patience, but for the taxi driver in traffic and the CEO in the backseat, the only metric that matters is a smooth ride home. The clock is ticking.