The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced a temporary closure of a key section of the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway to allow for ongoing road construction and drainage works. In a notice issued on Tuesday, August 19, KeNHA confirmed that the stretch between Makupa Bridge and the Changamwe Interchange in Mombasa County will be affected for two weeks, starting Saturday, August 23, 2025, until Sunday, September 7, 2025.
According to KeNHA Director General Luka Kimeli, the closure is necessary to facilitate critical drainage and road improvements along the busy corridor, which serves as a major gateway to and from the Port of Mombasa. To manage the disruption, a traffic management plan has been rolled out, requiring motorists traveling in both directions to share a section of the Nairobi-bound carriageway for approximately six kilometres.
The arrangement is expected to slow down movement along the route, and motorists have been advised to plan their journeys in advance, exercise patience, and comply with directions issued by police officers and traffic marshals stationed on-site.
“The Authority urges all road users to be cautious and adhere to the provided instructions to ensure safety and minimal disruption during this period,” KeNHA said in its statement.
The Makupa–Changamwe stretch is among the busiest road segments in the coastal region, serving cargo trucks, passenger vehicles, and port logistics operations. Since November 2024, KeNHA has been undertaking drainage construction works in the area, with similar traffic interruptions announced previously. The project is aimed at modernising the infrastructure to withstand heavy rains and prevent recurring flooding, which has often paralysed traffic flow.
This closure adds to a series of recent disruptions along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. In July, a section near Syokimau was shut down, affecting traffic to Mlolongo and Katani, while earlier closures impacted areas around General Motors Roundabout and the Southern Bypass Interchange in Nairobi.
KeNHA maintains that these short-term inconveniences are necessary trade-offs for long-term improvements on the country’s most vital transport corridor, which connects Nairobi to Mombasa and serves as a crucial lifeline for trade and economic growth.
