The 112 km route linking Kisumu and Busia, formerly a crucial artery for accessing Ugandan and East African markets, has declined into a perilous road section, stirring public discontent and renewed demands for accountability from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
Due to years of insufficient upkeep, the road has severely degraded, exhibiting decaying edges and significant potholes that are widespread across practically every part of the route.
The Yala–Ugunja section has suffered the greatest deterioration, with motorists describing it as “more of an obstacle course than a proper road,” emphasizing ongoing hazards and near-collisions.
Although the authorities have occasionally implemented brief repair works, these fixes are often short-lived. Each rainy season erodes the repairs, resulting in the potholes expanding in both size and depth, and exposing even slowly moving heavy vehicles to costly malfunctions.
Annoyed commuters have resorted to various social media platforms to express their discontent, posting visuals of burst tires, stranded buses, and waterlogged potholes.
One cyclist, identifying himself as Dev Siro (@SiroDevs), shared a distressing experience after driving into a hidden pothole.
“Greetings from Uganda. The Kisumu Busia route is riddled with massive holes. I struck one just before arriving in Busia, resulting in punctures on both tires and a damaged suspension. I managed to repair the suspension at the border after completing the check-in procedure. My estimated arrival time in Kampala is now 10 p.m. Despite the challenges, I will reach Kampala today! ”
The Motorist Association has also voiced its concerns, cautioning about potential accidents if the issue is not promptly addressed.
“Fredrick Oscar Ochieng Owino, it takes exceptional courage to navigate this road at night, especially during rainfall. The Kisumu-Busia Highway is plagued by hazardous potholes and deteriorated segments. “
The pressure is intensifying on KeNHA to provide a lasting solution, particularly as the government commits diplomatic and financial resources to a new international expressway designed to supplant a portion of the existing route.
Multinational expressway
Even as complaints escalate, officials from the East African Community, representatives from Kenya and Uganda, and the African Development Bank are nearing the completion of plans for a 193 km expressway linking Kisumu and Busia to Kakira and Malaba in Uganda.
The road, an integral part of the Northern Transport Corridor, is being presented as a key integration venture intended to greatly decrease transport expenses, stimulate regional commerce, and foster a smooth cross-border logistics system.
During a two-day Market Sounding Conference that took place in Kampala on October 20, 2025, officials stated that the project is “ready for investment,” with both countries preparing to carry out distinct elements.
Under a Public-Private Partnership model, Uganda will undertake the construction of a new expressway stretching from Jinja to Busesa, along with the dualing of the Busesa–Malaba and Busitema–Busia connections.
Kenya is slated to upgrade the Kisumu bypass, enhance regional transport routes, and update border clearance procedures at both Malaba and Busia.
Upon its completion, the expressway will commence in Kisumu and weave through Kisian, Maseno, Luanda, Yala, Ugunja, Sega, Bumala, and Busia, before proceeding into Uganda and extending towards Kampala by way of Iganga and Jinja.
Questions linger
Although the proposed expressway offers a promising remedy for upcoming travel, residents and transport companies continue to be unconvinced — and impatient.
They contend that setting aside or disregarding the existing motorway is not feasible as they wait for a large-scale project that is still in its initial phases.
According to regional entrepreneurs, the poor state of the roads has led to higher expenses for vehicle upkeep, thrown off delivery timelines, and reduced the appeal of western Kenya to visitors.
Those who drive for public transportation are cautioning that the road may soon be unusable unless immediate action is taken.
At the moment, KeNHA is facing a difficult situation: an essential route is deteriorating, and the people who use it daily are becoming increasingly frustrated and running low on replacement tires.
