By Suleiman Mbatiah
Nakuru City is set to undergo a major infrastructure upgrade valued at more than Sh1 billion, four years after it was granted city status.
The planned works target key roads in Nakuru Town East constituency that have struggled to keep pace with Nakuru’s rapid growth, marked by congestion, potholes and narrow carriageways.
Nakuru Municipality was officially elevated to city status in December 2021 by President Uhuru Kenyatta. However, residents and motorists say little has changed on the ground.
The area Member of Parliament, David Gikaria said the facelift aims to align the local infrastructure with its new City status and support future economic growth.
Top of the list is Oginga Odinga Avenue, the longest road in the city. It runs from Bedi, past the Central Police Station, Menengai High School and Free Area, edges Lake Nakuru National Park, and ends at Pipeline.
Gikaria said the road will be dualled at a cost of about Sh700 million and the project is set to be advertised in the coming days.
He said upgrading Oginga Odinga Avenue is important given its role as a major transport corridor where it serves as a bypass from Pipeline to Eveready, linking residential, commercial and institutional areas.
The project will include dualling the carriageways, proper drainage, street lighting and other supporting infrastructure to improve safety, aesthetics and traffic flow.
“We are now a City, but nothing has changed. Together with Governor Susan Kihika, we approached President William Ruto and he has agreed to support us,” the MP said.
Other roads earmarked for improvement include East Road, which connects Mashambani Stage, Wakulima Market, Bargain Market and Nakuru Nursing Home.
Mburu Gichua Road, stretching from Gate House Roundabout through the Mosque area to Kingdom Seekers and the National Youth Service facilities, is also on the list.
Gusii Road, which runs from Gituamba Night Club through Taidy’s area down to Ngala Estate, will be upgraded as part of the plan.
Club Road and Moi Road, which serve the Rift Valley regional headquarters and Nakuru County offices respectively, will also be rehabilitated under the Sh400 million allocation for secondary roads.
Gikaria said the road projects are designed to complement the Rironi–Mau Summit dual carriageway, which passes through Nakuru City.
“The roads will complement the Rironi–Mau Summit superhighway. The region will grow and we expect major investments. We must be ready for that,” he said.
He added that the projects are expected to create jobs and stimulate the local economy during and after the construction.
The MP said he will push for the involvement of local suppliers and workers to ensure the benefits of the projects are felt within the City.
Nakuru City is one of Kenya’s fastest-growing urban centers in East and Central Africa, driven by trade, tourism, education and its strategic location along the Northern Corridor.