The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has defended the condition of the Ngong-Suswa Road following growing public criticism over the rapid deterioration of sections of the recently completed highway.
In a public notice issued on July 9, the authority said the road is currently undergoing phased maintenance to address pavement distress caused by overloaded vehicles while improving safety for motorists. KeRRA noted that the road was designed to carry a maximum axle load of 10 tonnes, but has been subjected to traffic carrying up to 50 tonnes, accelerating its deterioration.
According to the authority, the damage is most evident on the right-hand lane towards Suswa, prompting the installation of the Ngong-Suswa-Ewaso-Kedong Virtual Weighbridge to detect overloaded vehicles and enforce axle-load regulations. KeRRA said offenders have already been arrested and charged, adding that the road has been open to traffic for the past eight years, with the final section completed in December 2025.
The explanation has, however, attracted criticism from members of the public, many of whom questioned both the road’s design and construction quality.
One commenter, Kivuva John, argued that designing a national road for a 10-tonne axle load despite the presence of much heavier trucks amounted to a planning failure, asking why stricter enforcement measures were not introduced earlier.
Others blamed poor workmanship rather than overloading. Another commenter, identified as bildad.o, described the road as substandard from the outset, while BERLIN expressed hope that the repairs would be undertaken under the defects liability period rather than at taxpayers’ expense.
The Ngong-Suswa Road has previously faced complaints over potholes, inadequate road markings and safety concerns, with the latest statement doing little to quell public dissatisfaction.
