The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is facing questions over the quality of road improvement works along the James Gichuru-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Highway, following complaints about damaged walkways and sinking kerbstones.
Kenyans have raised concerns over the condition of pedestrian paths, broken drainage covers and road designs that they say could expose pedestrians and motorists to safety risks.
The complaints have centred on sections of Mombasa Road and Uhuru Highway, where images shared by road users show deteriorating footpaths and kerbstones falling out of position.
“Construction of the Mombasa Road footpaths isn't even finished, and the drain cover blocks are already breaking,” Chris Kost, a transport planner and advocate for sustainable cities, said.
An image of a kerberstone along a section of Uhuru Highway sinking on October 12, 2026
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Other images show kerbstones along Uhuru Highway sinking or becoming dislodged, raising questions about the quality of workmanship and whether the repairs can withstand daily traffic and changing weather conditions.
This happens even as the contractor is still on site, with some Kenyans saying that bodaboda riders are partly to blame for their overlapping on the walkways.
The concerns have also drawn attention to the maintenance of road infrastructure as Kenya experiences the October to December rainy season, when poor drainage can worsen damage and create hazards for road users.
Last month, KeNHA announced plans to improve stormwater drainage along the James Gichuru Road junction to JKIA Highway to improve water flow and address drainage challenges along the busy route.
In April, KeNHA also announced plans to install walkway lighting along the JKIA stretch of the B10 road in Nairobi as part of efforts to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Beyond construction quality, the concerns have raised questions about routine maintenance, waste disposal and enforcement against motorists who drive or park on pedestrian walkways, practices that can contribute to infrastructure damage and put pedestrians at risk.
The complaints have also renewed scrutiny of how public funds allocated to road improvement works are being used, particularly where sections of newly repaired infrastructure appear to deteriorate before the work is complete.
However, KeNHA, the maintenance contractor and the Ministry of Transport had not responded to the concerns by the time of publication.
The road improvement programme, with an investment of Ksh4.5 billion, was intended to improve traffic movement, enhance safety and improve the appearance of major roads in Nairobi.
A collage image of a kerberstone along a section of Uhuru Highway sinking on October 12, 2026
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