Mombasa’s notorious Links Road – long a nightmare for motorists every rainy season – is finally getting a major upgrade after the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) pumped in Sh64 million to end the floods that often turn it into a river.
The project, which covers the busy stretch near Quickmart supermarket in Nyali, will see engineers raise sections of the road and install new culverts and vertical drains to keep stormwater at bay.
Officials say the facelift is aimed at making the road “motorable all year round”.
During an assessment visit, Kenya Urban Roads Authority Resident Engineer John Kipkegut explained that the redesign involves elevating the road and laying pipe culverts to guide stormwater away. “We are raising this section of the road using pipe culverts and installing vertical drains that will act as slippage areas where water can drain after passing through the culverts,” he said.
Frustrated drivers
The move comes after years of frustration for drivers and businesses forced to wade through flooded roads or endure standstill traffic whenever heavy rains hit the coastal city.
But there’s a catch: the road will be closed for six months.
In a public notice, KURA announced that Links Road will be shut from 6am on Friday, August 1,2025 until 6pm on Friday, January 30, 2026, to allow construction works. Motorists have been urged to use Mt. Kenya Road as the official diversion route. Police officers and traffic marshals will be deployed to help ease congestion.
“This closure is necessary to provide a lasting solution to the flooding and drainage challenges that usually affect that section of the road,” KURA said in the notice.
Water woes
The project doesn’t stop there. A 7.5-kilometre stretch from Nyali Centre to the Lights roundabout will also be placed under a 12-month performance-based maintenance contract to guarantee the road remains in good condition long after the current works are complete.
Still, challenges remain. Eng Kipkegut admitted that the real headache is the sheer volume of stormwater flowing from surrounding developments, which often overwhelms the drainage system. “The volume of water coming from surrounding developments is significant, and without adequate funding, it has not been possible to construct infrastructure to channel the excess water to the ocean,” he said. He estimated that such additional works would need at least three months and more resources to complete.
Busy suburb
The announcement has been met with mixed reactions from residents. While many welcome the long-overdue repairs, others worry about traffic snarl-ups during the closure, especially in Nyali – one of the city’s busiest suburbs.
“It’s good they are finally doing something permanent, but six months is a long time. Traffic here is already terrible, now it’s going to be chaos,” said taxi driver Ali Mwinyi.
Local leaders, however, insist the inconvenience will be worth it. Coast Regional Director for the Government Delivery Unit, Sherry Litunya, said the initiative is crucial to restoring order on one of Mombasa’s busiest arteries. “Flooding has been a persistent problem on Links Road. This investment is about ensuring mobility, safety and growth for the area,” she said.
For now, motorists are being asked to plan ahead, brace for delays, and hope that once the six months are over, Links Road’s long battle with floods will finally be history.
It is a good thing they are finally doing something permanent, but six months is a long time.
Ali Mwinyi, a taxi driver.
