Sh3.9b Ngong-Suswa road project to improve traffic flow and spur growth
Boni Odinga (PCO)
The Government has invested Sh3.9 billion to upgrade the Ngong-Suswa Road to bitumen standards in a bid to revolutionize regional connectivity.
The upgrade also aims to stimulate trade and alleviate traffic congestion along the treacherous Maai Mahiu escarpment.
As part of President William Ruto's infrastructure agenda, the road will also play a crucial role in decongesting the northern corridor, offering a faster, cost-effective alternative route for travelers and traders heading to Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisii, Kericho and other parts of Nyanza.
Spanning 70 kilometers through Kajiado North and Kajiado West Sub-Counties, the Ngong-Suswa Road is now 90 per cent complete.
The initial 47-kilometer stretch has already been handed over for maintenance, signaling the government’s commitment to enhancing transport infrastructure and boosting economic activities in the region.
Revived in September 2024 following a Presidential Directive, the road underscores the government's resolve to improve regional connectivity.
An additional budgetary allocation of approximately Sh500 million is needed to complete the remaining sections. According to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), the project is on track and will be completed by early 2025, with only 14 kilometers remaining.
The newly upgraded Ngong-Suswa Road has now emerged as a pivotal infrastructure project, capturing national attention during government inspections in Narok and Kajiado Counties.
During a visit, Eliud Owalo, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance and Delivery Management in the Executive Office of the President emphasized the transformative power of infrastructure in boosting local economies and improving livelihoods.
“The purpose of inspecting the projects is to verify the exact status of implementation. Projects are supposed to be implemented within specified timelines and budgetary provisions,” he stated.
He added that challenges encountered during implementation would be addressed by engaging relevant government agencies.
He said Narok’s Uhuru Modern Market, with a budget of Sh357.8 million, is 28 per cent complete and is set to be fully operational by July 2026. It will provide modern trading spaces for over 1,500 traders, creating over 100 jobs at the construction site daily and 400 indirect jobs.
He added that the Government has set aside Sh680.4 million to pave 7.7 kilometers of key roads to ease traffic congestion whilst the project is 79 per cent complete, with Phase II to include a Narok Town Bypass and a bridge near Narok Prison.
In addition, the Ntulele and Suswa Economic Stimulus Project
The Chief of Staff added that the Sh1 billion Ewaso Ng'iro Tannery and Leather Factory expansion aims to double the tannery's capacity to 2,400 metric tons annually, with plans to further increase it to 4,800 metric tons.
The upgrading of the Sh1.5 billion Kilgoris-Lolgorian Road is 53 per cent complete, whereas the Sh598.8 million Kilgoris-Lolgorian Water Supply and Sanitation Project targets clean water provision for 6,700 households, requiring an additional Sh300 million through the last-mile connectivity, he added.
In Kajiado, the Sh50.2 million Isinet ESP Market in Loitokitok, Kajiado South, which is 39.6 per cent complete, aims to enhance the trading environment for 200 small traders, Owalo added.
The Loitokitok Agro-Processing Tomato Factory, which is estimated to cost Sh425 million, is structurally complete but awaits Sh300 million for equipment installation.
Once operational, it will process 600 metric tons annually, with expansion plans to 2,400 metric tons per year.
Owalo added that the Rombo Clusters Irrigation Scheme pegged to cost Sh223.3 million is 45 per cent complete and aims to expand irrigation coverage from 2,983 to 5,259 acres, boosting food security and agricultural productivity.