Cabinet Approves New Nairobi Projects & Revised Alcohol Age Restrictions

Hello and welcome to the Money News Roundup Newsletter. Today, we detail the latest Cabinet approvals for the dualing of the Northern Bypass and the new SGR-JKIA railway line. We also cover the raised drinking age limit.

‍Cabinet Approved Dualing of Northern Bypass & SGR-JKIA Link

The Cabinet has approved the dualing of the 20-kilometer Northern Bypass in a move to ease traffic within Nairobi.

The Northern Bypass, which stretches from Ruaka in Kiambu to Ruiru and links both the Western and Eastern bypasses, is currently Nairobi’s only bypass that remains a single carriageway.

As detailed in the Tuesday Cabinet dispatch, the bypass experiences severe congestion, resulting in significant travel delays during peak hours. 

The project will include the construction of eight interchanges, overpasses, and underpasses, as well as non-motorised transport facilities and improved drainage systems.

For other infrastructural projects, the cabinet also approved a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line that will be linked to the to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

"In support of Nairobi’s broader urban transformation agenda, the Cabinet gave the green light to implement the Nairobi Railway City Central Station and Public Realm Project, a transformative infrastructure development designed to decongest Nairobi and revitalise the Central Business District. 

"With projected passenger demand rising to 400,000 daily by 2030 and 600,000 by 2045, the new station will feature nine platforms and improved access bridges, allowing for the efficient evacuation of up to 30,000 people per hour," read the dispatch in part.

Age Limit for Alcohol Sales

Additionally, Cabinet also approved the National Policy on the Prevention of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Use (2025), which seeks to ban the sale of alcohol to Kenyans below the age of 21 years.

The policy also seeks to restrict the sale of alcohol near schools and places of worship.

“The policy strengthens the mandate of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), restricts where alcohol can be sold and advertised, and enhances protection for persons under 21 and those who abstain.

“It promotes awareness, evidence-based prevention, professional training, and community action, while prioritising support for youth, persons with disabilities, and other at-risk groups,” read the dispatch in part.

Motorists Face Up to 5-Year Ban in New Drunk Driving Rules

The proposed Drunk Driving Rules 2025, if approved, will introduce a tiered penalty system for motorists found guilty of driving while intoxicated above the set limit. 

Under the proposed system, the penalties will increase with each subsequent offence. 

For instance, first-time offenders will face a license suspension of up to 30 days, while repeat offenders within specified timeframes may have their licenses suspended for up to a year.

A fourth offence committed within two years will result in automatic revocation of the driving license, with a mandatory five-year disqualification.

‍Govt Bans Exclusive Internet Deals in Estates, Warns of Ksh10 Million Fine 

Landlords risk heavy penalties, including five years in prison or a fine of Ksh10 million for locking out competing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from their premises 

As detailed by the Business Daily, this warning was issued by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), which has intensified its efforts to dismantle monopolistic practices in the internet service sector within housing estates.

The CAK's investigation found that some real estate developers and estate managers have been signing exclusive agreements with specific internet service providers (ISPs).

These deals effectively give sole rights to one ISP, blocking competitors and limiting tenants' options, often resulting in higher prices and poorer service quality for residents.

New Bill Proposes Mandatory Retraining for PSV Drivers

As reported in the People Daily, Nominated Senator Crystal Asige has proposed the Traffic Laws (Universal Design) amendment bill, which will require PSV drivers to acquire mandatory qualifications before getting a PSV license.

If Parliament passes the bill, which is set for its 1st reading, all PSV drivers who have been licensed will be required to have to brush up on their skills in customer care, first aid, emergency response, and defensive driving.

"The Bill amends the Traffic Act to provide for the testing of specific skills in persons applying for licenses to drive public service vehicles," reads the proposed law in part.

The new bill also seeks to push PSVs to adopt a cashless payment system for bus fares.

‍Kenyans Warned of New Visa Scam

Kenyans have been warned of rising cases of scams targeting those applying for visas as they seek to travel out of the country.

As reported by the Standard, scammers are increasingly posing as employees or agents of visa processing companies to promise an early appointment at an additional cost. The scammers are reported to be faking company logos and contacts to convenience their victims.

Stephen Kubasu, General Manager-Operations at VFS Global, noted that Kenyans seeking to travel abroad for jobs were the most targeted individuals in the scams.

“We strongly advise all applicants to be careful of touts and fraudulent parties who falsely promise early appointment bookings in exchange for payment,” he stated.

“With the presence of location pins and information on popular social media and search platforms, many such fraudsters create a fake presence using company credentials like logos, official name etc. and include their contact details in the details provided on these pages that deceive genuine travellers who mistake these details as the official presence of the company.”