Motorists using the Thika-Kenol highway will have to contend with damaged sections for longer as the government says the money available under the current maintenance programme cannot cover all areas requiring major repairs.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir told the National Assembly that the Thika-Kenol stretch needs extra funding to strengthen its pavement, which has deteriorated faster than other parts of the corridor.
The CS said the section was built with a less robust pavement structure even though it carries heavy traffic along the busy corridor. This has left it more prone to damage from both vehicles and weather.
“The road section requires additional funding for pavement strengthening,” Chirchir said in response to Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo, who had raised concerns over the state of the highway.
Chirchir said the maintenance contract currently in place cannot meet the cost of repairing every section that has experienced severe raveling. Authorities have therefore been forced to focus on the most affected areas through patching and regulation of damaged portions.
The road has developed potholes and other damaged sections, while a full rehabilitation programme remains tied to the availability of funds and the procurement process.
The Thika-Kenol stretch is part of the A2 road and was recarpeted in 2022. The new overlay, however, was not sealed with surface dressing because there was not enough money to complete the work.
The situation became worse after heavy rains between October 2023 and May 2024, which caused further raveling of the road surface.
Maintenance works being carried out under the performance-based contract cover a range of activities. They include drainage improvements, localised base repairs, pothole patching, surface dressing, road marking and work on other road furniture.
But Chirchir said the contract did not have enough room to provide an asphalt concrete overlay for all sections that have suffered severe raveling.
Money that had been put aside for surface dressing is consequently being used for asphalt concrete regulation in the affected areas.
The government says the weaker pavement on the Thika-Kenol section is the main reason it has deteriorated faster than other parts of the corridor. Heavy traffic and exposure to weather have added pressure to the road.
A more lasting solution is expected through the planned Thika-Kenol-Marua Corridor upgrade, which will include comprehensive rehabilitation of the affected road.
Mugo said the government's response did not provide clear dates for some of the planned works along the highway.
He sought timelines for the construction of bus bays as well as a climbing lane at the Blue Post section in Thika.
The MP said the planned facilities at Roysambu, Githurai and Witeithie would help ease congestion and make the highway safer. He, however, said the government needed to give motorists and other road users clear information on when the projects would be completed.
The Roysambu and Githurai bus bays are planned along the Nairobi-Ruiru section. The Witeithie facilities and the climbing lane at Blue Post are planned along the Ruiru-Thika section.
The facilities are expected to improve the movement of traffic while also helping reduce accidents along the busy road.
“These bus bays would be an important factor in decongesting the road and also managing accidents,” Mugo said.
Meanwhile, the Nairobi-Thika section, which forms the S1 part of the corridor, has already received surface dressing.
Localised repairs and pothole patching were also carried out on service lanes in 2025, while selected non-motorised transport facilities and walkways were rehabilitated.
Chirchir said the maintenance contracts for the Nairobi-Ruiru and Ruiru-Thika sections started in June 2025 and are expected to remain in place until June 2027.
The contract covering Thika-Kenol started later, in November 2025, and will run until November 2027.
The government set aside Sh1.4 billion for road maintenance during the 2025/26 financial year.
The allocation has been raised to Sh1.65 billion for 2026/27, but Chirchir said the additional resources will still be required to strengthen the Thika-Kenol pavement and address the sections that have suffered the most damage.