President William Ruto has announced plans to upgrade the Karen-Ngong-Kiserian-Ongata Rongai road into a dual carriageway as the government moves to ease persistent traffic congestion in Kajiado North.

Ruto said construction will begin before December 2026, with the project financed through the National Infrastructure Fund.

“Before December 2026, we will have commenced work on the road so that we can eliminate the traffic gridlock often witnessed,” he said in Ongata Rongai on Monday.

The President also announced plans for a bypass around Ngong town to allow motorists travelling between Nairobi and Suswa to avoid the busy centre.

The announcements came as Ruto concluded a three-day tour of Kajiado County, where he commissioned and inspected road, housing, water and market projects.

He inspected the 1,910-unit Ngong VET Affordable Housing Project, which is expected to be completed in March 2027 and has created more than 1,500 jobs.

Ruto said the government is investing Sh20 billion to construct 10,000 housing units across Kajiado County, creating about 5,200 jobs for local youth.

He defended the Affordable Housing Programme, saying it had become a major source of employment.

“Some 1.1 million Kenyans have been employed in the Affordable Housing Programme. Where will they take them?” he said.

Ruto also commissioned the Kahara-Ngong road and launched construction of the Ngong Stadium Loop Road.

He said the government is spending Sh15 billion on road upgrades across Kajiado County in the current financial year.

At Gataka, the President commissioned the Sh1.3 billion Kiserian-Ongata Rongai Water Supply Project, implemented in partnership with the German Development Bank.

The project is expected to supply five million litres of clean water daily to about 180,000 residents.

He also inspected the Embulbul-Gataka-Ongata Rongai road, part of a 65-kilometre network being upgraded at a cost of Sh2.5 billion.

In Ongata Rongai, Ruto laid the foundation stone for a Sh210 million modern market that will accommodate 1,000 traders and commissioned another Sh70 million market for 200 traders.

He further launched construction of the five-kilometre Ongata Rongai SGR Station Access Road, valued at Sh300 million.

On healthcare, Ruto said about 740,000 Kajiado residents had registered with the Social Health Authority, while health facilities in the county had received Sh2.7 billion over the past 18 months.

“Under SHA, it is not a must for one to hold a formal job or a payslip to benefit. This programme caters for all without favour,” he said.

The President also announced that 40 additional classrooms will be built at Ongata Rongai Primary School to ease congestion.

Ruto ended the tour with a political message, urging residents to reject leaders he accused of relying on ethnic mobilisation instead of development.

“They have no vision, plans or agenda for Kenya. All they have are empty slogans which cannot improve the livelihoods of citizens,” he said.

He was accompanied by Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku, Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho and several local leaders.

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