Plans to expand the heavily congested Kiambu Road have suffered a fresh setback after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) withdrew a high-stakes tender estimated at Sh38.7 billion—barely a week after inviting bids from Chinese contractors alone.

In a formal announcement made public on Tuesday, the agency declared that its earlier call for proposals was no longer valid.

No explanation accompanied the notice, leaving the public and stakeholders to speculate over what might have prompted the sudden reversal.

The now-cancelled tender, first advertised on July 15, had signalled the government’s intention to fast-track the upgrade of the Pangani–Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi Road, a corridor long troubled by gridlock and deadly crashes. But instead of celebration, the procurement notice sparked concern.

A section of industry players criticised the decision to limit participation to Chinese companies, warning that this approach risked stifling competition and driving up the eventual cost of the project.

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Others questioned the transparency of the process altogether.

As debate around the bidding intensified, KeNHA pulled the plug—quietly and without comment.

While the agency has not clarified its reasons, the move has stirred speculation about unresolved questions surrounding the viability of the project’s funding or the possible need to revise its scope before it proceeds.

In its original disclosure, KeNHA had stated, "The Government of Kenya has received commitment from China through the China Export Import Bank to finance the cost of the Capacity Enhancement of Pangani–Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi (B32) Road."

The Authority had also confirmed the project’s delivery model: "The project will be implemented through FIDIC Silver Book – Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract Arrangements."

The proposed upgrade was to cut across a critical transport artery, starting in Pangani, passing through Muthaiga, and stretching to Ndumberi in Kiambu County.

The plan included the construction of new bridges at key junctions: Muthaiga Golf Club, Mua Road Overpass, Coffee Garden U-turn, Tala Road Overpass, Ridgeways U-turn, Runda U-turn, and the Kirigiti Junction.

Additionally, six pedestrian footbridges were to be built along the route to address the high incidence of road accidents, particularly those involving pedestrians.

With the tender scrapped, uncertainty looms over when, or if, the long-awaited road works will begin.

Commuters who brave the route daily may now have to wait longer for relief as KeNHA reconsiders how to proceed with one of its most high-profile urban road upgrades.

What happens next may depend on whether the agency opens the tender to broader competition—or revisits the financing structure altogether.