Motorists using the Mlolongo-Kamulu Road, widely known as Quarry Road, have a two-month closure to plan around starting Thursday, October 1, 2026. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) says construction works will shut the route until Tuesday, December 1, 2026, and has published specific diversions for cars, matatus and heavy trucks moving between Mlolongo on Mombasa Road and Kamulu on Kangundo Road.
Why Is the Mlolongo-Kamulu Road Closing?
KURA says the closure is necessary to let a contractor carry out construction works along the affected stretch, part of the authority’s broader effort to rehabilitate bridges, culverts and drainage on urban roads feeding Nairobi’s eastern and southeastern commuter belt. Road maintenance funding and classification nationally falls under the Kenya Roads Board, though this particular project notice did not name the contractor or disclose a project cost, and neither detail could be independently confirmed as of publication.
When Does the Road Close and Reopen?
The closure begins Thursday, October 1, 2026, and KURA has scheduled a reopening for Tuesday, December 1, 2026 — a two-month window. The authority has extended road-closure timelines before on other projects when construction ran behind schedule, so motorists who rely on this route daily should treat early December as an estimate rather than a guarantee.
What Are the Alternative Routes?
KURA has split its detour advice by vehicle type rather than issuing a single blanket diversion:
| Vehicle Type | Recommended Diversion |
|---|---|
| Light and medium vehicles | Syokimau-Katani Road |
| Light and medium vehicles | Syokimau-Parliament Road |
| Heavy commercial vehicles | Tuffoam Road |
KURA says police officers and traffic marshals will be stationed along the affected section and the alternative routes “to ensure smooth traffic flow,” and has urged motorists to “exercise caution when approaching the affected section and to follow all traffic signs and instructions given.”
Who Does This Actually Affect?
The closure sits on a corridor that a lot of commuters treat as a shortcut rather than a destination in itself — it links Mlolongo and Syokimau in Machakos County on the Mombasa Road side to Kamulu and the wider Ruai area in Nairobi County on the Kangundo Road side. Residents, matatu crews and boda boda riders who use Quarry Road to skip the more congested sections of both highways will need to add time to their trip for the next two months, particularly during the morning and evening peaks.
It’s a familiar frustration for Nairobi commuters. The city was recently ranked among Africa’s worst for traffic congestion, and a temporary closure like this one lands on a road network that already has little spare capacity to absorb diverted vehicles.
Has KURA Closed Roads Like This Before?
Yes. KURA has shut down sections of Nairobi-area roads for rehabilitation on a rolling basis this year, including an earlier closure on Limuru Road. Unplanned disruptions add to the same pattern — a trailer crash brought Nairobi-Mombasa highway traffic to a standstill for hours earlier this year, a reminder of how little buffer the city’s road network has when any single route goes down, whether by construction or by accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does the Mlolongo-Kamulu Road close?
The closure takes effect on Thursday, October 1, 2026, and is scheduled to run through Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
Why is KURA closing Quarry Road?
KURA says a contractor needs to carry out construction works along the road, part of its wider urban roads rehabilitation programme covering bridges, culverts and drainage.
What route should I use if I drive a car or matatu?
KURA has named Syokimau-Katani Road and Syokimau-Parliament Road as the approved diversions for light and medium vehicles.
What about trucks and other heavy commercial vehicles?
Heavy commercial vehicles are directed to use Tuffoam Road instead of the closed section.
Will there be traffic officers managing the diversion?
KURA says police officers and traffic marshals will be stationed at the site and along the alternative routes to manage the flow of vehicles for the duration of the closure.
By the 254.ke Newsroom.
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