Residents of Kilimani have come out strongly against a proposed KSh1.6 billion plan to expand State House Road into a dual carriageway, warning that the project risks worsening Nairobi’s already chronic traffic congestion while stripping the neighbourhood of its green cover.
The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) is proposing to widen the stretch between the University Way roundabout and Gate D as part of government efforts to ease rush-hour gridlock along one of Nairobi’s busiest corridors. But for residents represented by the Kilimani Community Foundation (KCF), the cure may be worse than the disease.
In a letter to KURA Director General Silas Kinoti, KCF Board Chairperson Irene Aguttu invoked the urban planning concept of induced demand — the widely documented phenomenon where expanding road capacity simply attracts more vehicles, recreating the very congestion it was meant to solve.
“There is concern that increasing road capacity may induce additional demand by attracting more motorists to use the corridor, ultimately worsening congestion rather than reducing it,” Aguttu wrote.
She pointed out that most motorists passing through State House Road are not even heading to Kilimani. “Their destinations are often Kileleshwa, Lavington, Riverside and other western suburbs of Nairobi,” she said, adding that the project may therefore “encourage additional through-traffic” rather than serve the local community.
KCF is instead calling on KURA to invest in expanding alternative routes including Argwings Kodhek Road, Chiromo Lane, and Riverside Drive — roads it says already carry significant traffic volumes and could offer sustainable dispersal options without disrupting residential neighbourhoods.
The environmental stakes are equally alarming. The Green Belt Movement has flagged that dozens of mature trees lining State House Road — some estimated to be over 60 years old — have been marked with a red ‘X’ for removal. Advocates warn that these trees play a critical role in improving air quality, reducing urban heat, absorbing pollutants, preventing flooding and supporting local wildlife habitats. Their removal, residents fear, could leave lasting environmental scars on the neighbourhood.
The letter to KURA also urged the authority to incorporate dedicated cycling lanes clearly separated from pedestrian walkways, and to adopt universal accessibility standards including flat kerbs at junctions and crossing points to support persons with disabilities.
Residents note that the concerns were first raised during a public participation meeting held on February 6, 2026, and remain unaddressed ahead of planned implementation.
The standoff reflects a growing debate in Nairobi about whether road widening alone can solve the city’s transport crisis — or whether a more integrated approach combining public transport, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian-friendly design is long overdue.
