President William Ruto has announced the construction of a Ksh3 billion bypass highway in Meru town as part of a broader plan to improve the county’s transport infrastructure. The announcement, made during a development tour in Meru on Thursday, January 22, 2026, is expected to play a key role in alleviating the growing traffic congestion in the town.
Ruto highlighted that the bypass will significantly reduce congestion, making Meru town more accessible for both residents and visitors. The construction is also a part of the government’s long-term strategy to transform Meru into Kenya’s sixth city, enhancing its urban infrastructure and economic growth.
“We are changing the face of Meru and turning the town into a modern city through the construction of a KSh3 billion bypass development that will reduce congestion in the town,” said President Ruto during his speech.
A bypass highway serves the critical function of diverting traffic away from city centers, allowing long-distance travelers to bypass congested areas, thereby improving travel times and reducing traffic jams. The new Meru bypass will be the second of its kind in Kenya, with Nairobi already hosting four major bypass highways forming a ring-road network around the city.
The Meru bypass will help improve the flow of traffic, benefiting both locals and travelers passing through the region.
In addition to the bypass announcement, President Ruto also shared plans for the reconstruction of the Nithi Bridge, a notorious black spot located along the Tharaka-Nithi-Meru border. The bridge, set to undergo a Ksh7 billion upgrade, will improve road safety in the region. Reconstruction is slated to begin in February 2026, with the goal of completing it before the 2027 general elections.
