Traders, pedestrians, welcome road upgrade outside PGH
School children use the newly built pedestrian walkway outside PGH on July 10,2025.
A section of Showground Road, along PGH, is currently being upgraded to include walkways; a move that has brought much relief to business owners operating along this stretch.
Cyrus Gatonge, who has been selling pineapples by the roadside outside PGH for the past year, says the upgrade is a welcome change.
Cyrus Gatonge, a Pineapple vendor outside PGH during an interview on the expanded road on July 9,2025.
“With better walkways, I can now set up my wheelbarrow and target pedestrians without the constant fear of speeding cars,” he says.
Ann Njoki, a chips vendor along the same section, also shares her relief. She recalls how the narrow road was once a safety hazard.
“Our biggest fear was speeding cars. At one point, a vehicle rammed into a shop, destroying goods and causing panic among traders,” she recounts.
She adds that while the road expansion is a step in the right direction, it also calls for additional safety measures. Emphasizing that the road needs speed bumps now that it’s even wider.
Ann also points out the improvements in drainage.
She explains how flooding rain water would get into shops and flood the road making it impassable whenever it rained.
“Most of the water that gets to the highways near the Gati Iguru underpass, would pass outside our shops. The floodwaters have made the road nearly unusable during rainy seasons. The new drainage will really help redirect the storm water and we won't need to constantly worry about safety products,” she says.
A section of the new drainage recently built adjacent to the PGH-Showground road. Photo taken on July 9,2025.
Additionally, she notes this has also been problematic for pedestrians.
“Many are the times people are forced to remove their shoes and walk in flooding water as they try to get to the matatu stage. All this has been caused by lack of proper drainage," she laments
Other than that, Joseph Limo, who was visiting PGH for treatment, notes that he frequents the hospital and has always been concerned about the safety of students and pupils who use this road to walk home.
“It’s not to say that the previous pedestrian walkway was a problem. However, I am happy to see a dedicated walkway, away from the road. This means students from nearby schools like Moi Primary and Secondary will greatly benefit from this upgrade. This also serves people accessing PGH,” Limo says.