Construction of the 66.5-kilometre Illasit–Njukini–Taveta Road has entered a faster phase, with 28 kilometres already paved as the government pushes to complete the project by December 2026.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said intensified construction works had enabled the government to bring forward the completion target from late 2027.
The road is being upgraded by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and runs from Illasit Junction through Njukini to Taveta Junction, along Kenya’s border with Tanzania. The corridor connects parts of Kajiado and Taita Taveta counties and is expected to strengthen movement of people and goods in the region.
28 kilometres already paved
Omollo said significant progress had been recorded on the project, including completion of major drainage structures, heavy-duty box culverts and the Ole Suyianka Bridge.
“The 66.5-kilometre road, being upgraded by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), runs parallel to the border from Illasit Junction to Taveta Junction and is currently under active construction,” Omollo said.
“About 28 kilometres have already been paved to bituminous standards, with major drainage structures, heavy-duty box culverts and the Ole Suyianka Bridge completed.”
The upgraded road will have a seven-metre carriageway, 1.5-metre paved shoulders on both sides, improved junctions and street lighting at major market centres.
The project replaces sections of the former seasonal gravel route with a modern highway designed to improve road safety, mobility and reliability.
Travel time expected to fall sharply
One of the biggest expected benefits is a reduction in travel time between Illasit and Taveta.
According to Omollo, the journey that currently takes more than two hours could take about 40 to 45 minutes once the road is completed.
“Once complete, the road will cut travel time between Illasit and Taveta from more than two hours to about 40–45 minutes, reducing post-harvest losses and giving farmers faster access to markets, including the Oloitoktok Agro-Processing Factory,” he said.
The shorter journey is expected to make it easier for farmers and traders to move agricultural produce while reducing the time and cost associated with transporting goods.
Boost for cross-border trade and tourism
The road is also expected to strengthen trade through the Taveta One-Stop Border Post, an important gateway for Kenya-Tanzania commerce.
Improved connectivity could also support tourism by strengthening links between the Amboseli and Tsavo West tourism circuits.
Beyond trade and tourism, Omollo said the upgraded corridor would improve the safe movement of people and goods while strengthening cross-border security, surveillance and rapid response.
The road has previously been identified as a strategic corridor connecting communities and economic centres on Kenya’s southern border. KeNHA documents list the project scope as including pavement works, drainage structures and street lighting in urban centres.
With construction accelerated, the government is now targeting December 2026 for completion, bringing the upgraded corridor closer to becoming a fully paved link between Illasit and Taveta.
