A long-awaited solution to one of Nairobi’s busiest choke points is just about ready. The Greenpark Pedestrian Underpass, which cuts across the Haile Selassie–Uhuru Highway roundabout, has reached 97 percent completion and is now in its final stages.
When members of the National Assembly’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee toured the site on Thursday, they described the Ksh.2 billion project as a landmark investment that could finally bring order to the city’s often chaotic pedestrian traffic.
Built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) under the watch of Civil One Consulting Engineers, the 500-metre walkway promises to give Nairobi’s non-motorised users a safer, quicker route to major destinations such as Mombasa Road, Upper Hill, Westlands, and the Railway terminus.
But this isn’t just a tunnel. The underpass comes equipped with seven standby generators, a water pump system for drainage, CCTV surveillance, and even a police post a design that prioritises both safety and security. Accessibility has also been built in, with elevators for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and expectant mothers. Beyond functionality, the space will host 39 shops, rental spaces, and billboards, offering a revenue stream that could help sustain its operations.
According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the last touches include fitting elevators, electrical and mechanical systems, CCTV installation, landscaping, and utility connections. Once completed, the underpass is expected to serve more than 21,000 pedestrians every day, reducing conflicts between vehicles and foot traffic while easing travel through the city’s core.
For Nairobians long accustomed to dashing across dangerous junctions, the Greenpark underpass signals a shift: a transport system that respects safety, efficiency, and urban order.
