The Nairobi Expressway Project will change what Nairobi looks like. For the sake of those who will be born in the future, here’s a glimpse of what a section of Uhuru Highway looked like in November 2019 before the expressway.

This is looking away from town towards the Railways bridge.

Looking towards Nyayo House from Harambee Sacco roundabout. The people crossing the road mostly work in the Upper Hill commercial district. Traffic from there to the CBD is usually crazy so walking is always faster.

Those palm trees are unique to Uhuru Highway. They do make it look beautiful, don’t they?

From end September every year, jacaranda trees are in full bloom, sprinkling a dash of purple to Nairobi’s green.

Looking towards Upper Hill along Haile Selassie Avenue. The green at the right of the image is Railways Golf Club.

This is the standstill traffic that the expressway is supposed to get rid of. But as motorists who use Thika Road will testify, new roads only invite more people to use cars. The jam may ease for a while, but it will be back, bigger and better.

A public transport system that dignifies passengers is what’s needed.

This was a happy accident : I was shooting a 4-sec exposure and accidentally moved the camera before it was done making the photo, hence the streaks across the image.

Upper Hill’s skyline is forever changing.

The Harambee Sacco roundabout.

Here’s a time lapse of traffic at the same roundabout.

Special shout out to Stephen Nderitu who’s friendship gave me access to the vantage point for these images.