Nairobi Matatu Route 145 connects Nairobi CBD with Ruiru Town, providing a direct public transport option for commuters travelling along the Thika Road corridor into Kiambu County.
For passengers whose destination is Ruiru rather than Thika, Route 145 is one of the most useful route numbers to know. The service travels through the wider Ruaraka, Roysambu, Githurai and Kahawa corridor before reaching Ruiru.
Route 145 Quick Information
Route Number: 145
Route: Nairobi CBD – Ruiru
Origin: Nairobi CBD
Main Destination: Ruiru Town
Main Corridor: Thika Road
CBD Boarding Area: Mumbi Lane off Ronald Ngala Street
Major Areas Served: Ruaraka, Roysambu, Githurai, Kahawa and Ruiru
County Destination: Kiambu County
Return Route: Ruiru – Nairobi CBD
Where to Board Route 145 in Nairobi CBD
Commuters travelling to Ruiru on Route 145 can board from the Mumbi Lane area off Ronald Ngala Street in Nairobi CBD.
This boarding location has been documented for Route 145 services travelling towards Ruiru. CBD loading arrangements can change, however, so passengers should look for vehicles displaying 145 – Ruiru and confirm the destination before boarding.
Route 145 from Nairobi to Ruiru
Route 145 leaves central Nairobi and joins the northern transport corridor before travelling along Thika Road towards Ruiru.
The main journey can be understood as:
Nairobi CBD → Ngara → Pangani → Muthaiga → Thika Road → Ruaraka → Roysambu → Githurai → Kahawa → Ruiru
This makes Route 145 useful not only for passengers travelling the entire distance to Ruiru but also for commuters heading to several major points along Thika Road.
Major Route 145 Stops and Areas Served
Ruaraka
Ruaraka is one of the important areas served along the Route 145 Thika Road corridor.
Passengers travelling from Nairobi CBD to the Ruaraka area can therefore use appropriate Route 145 services, although several other Thika Road routes also serve this section.
Roysambu
Route 145 continues along Thika Road through Roysambu on its journey towards Ruiru.
Roysambu is an important public transport interchange because numerous services towards Kasarani, Githurai, Kahawa, Ruiru and destinations farther north operate through this part of Thika Road.
Githurai
Githurai is one of the major points along Route 145.
Unlike Route 44 and Route 45 services that are strongly associated with destinations within the wider Githurai area, Route 145 continues farther along Thika Road towards Ruiru.
Passengers travelling to Ruiru should therefore make sure they board a Ruiru-bound vehicle rather than a service terminating at Githurai.
Kahawa
After Githurai, Route 145 continues through the wider Kahawa corridor towards Ruiru.
Passengers travelling to a particular destination around Kahawa should tell the conductor their intended stop because the wider Kahawa area contains several different neighbourhoods and institutions.
Ruiru
Ruiru is the principal destination of Route 145.
Ruiru is a major commuter town in Kiambu County along the Nairobi–Thika corridor. Route 145 therefore provides an important metropolitan public transport connection between Nairobi CBD and Ruiru.
Roads Used by Route 145
Thika Road is the principal transport corridor used by Route 145.
The route travels from central Nairobi towards the northern city corridor before joining Thika Road and continuing through Ruaraka, Roysambu, Githurai and Kahawa towards Ruiru.
Because many Nairobi matatu routes share Thika Road, passengers should check the route number and final destination displayed on the vehicle rather than assuming every Thika Road matatu reaches Ruiru.
Route 145 to Ruiru Town
Route 145 is particularly important for passengers travelling specifically between Nairobi and Ruiru.
While several longer-distance services continue beyond Ruiru towards Juja and Thika, Route 145 is principally associated with Ruiru.
This makes the route useful for daily commuters travelling between Nairobi CBD and the rapidly growing Ruiru urban area.
Does Route 145 Reach Kimbo?
Route 145 has also been documented as serving the Ruiru/Kimbo section of the Thika Road corridor.
Passengers travelling specifically to Kimbo should confirm with the conductor that the particular vehicle continues to their required stop.
Route 145 vs Route 237
Route 145 and Route 237 both use the Thika Road corridor, but their principal destinations are different.
Route 145
Main destination: Ruiru
This is one of the principal numbered routes for commuters travelling from Nairobi to Ruiru.
Route 237
Main destination: Thika
Route 237 continues farther beyond Ruiru through the Thika Road corridor towards Juja and Thika Town.
Passengers travelling only as far as Ruiru may therefore encounter both Ruiru-bound and longer-distance services, but they should confirm the stopping pattern and fare before boarding.
Route 145 Return Journey: Ruiru to Nairobi
Passengers travelling from Ruiru towards Nairobi CBD can use Route 145 services operating in the city-bound direction.
The return journey follows the Thika Road corridor through Kahawa, Githurai, Roysambu and Ruaraka before continuing towards central Nairobi.
Passengers should confirm the final Nairobi CBD drop-off point because city-centre traffic management arrangements and operator practices can change.
Route 145 Matatu Fare
The fare between Nairobi and Ruiru varies depending on the passenger’s boarding and alighting points, time of day, traffic conditions and passenger demand.
Passengers making shorter journeys along the corridor—for example between Roysambu and Ruiru—may pay a different amount from passengers travelling the full Nairobi CBD–Ruiru journey.
Fares may also increase during morning and evening peak periods, rainy weather, public holidays and periods of unusually high passenger demand.
Important: Matatu fares are not always fixed and may change at any time. Any Route 145 fare published in this guide should therefore be treated as an estimate rather than a guaranteed price. Commuters should confirm the current fare with the conductor before boarding.
Fare last checked: Current Nairobi–Ruiru fare requires field verification.
Route 145 Operating Times
Route 145 serves the busy Nairobi–Ruiru commuter corridor throughout the day, although individual departure times and service frequency depend on passenger demand and operator arrangements.
Passengers travelling very early in the morning or late in the evening should confirm current service availability.
Other Route 145 Variants
Public transport information also identifies 145-series variants in the wider Ruiru transport network.
Passengers should therefore pay attention to the complete route number and destination displayed on the matatu rather than assuming every 145-series vehicle follows exactly the same route or stopping pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions About Route 145
Where does Route 145 go?
Route 145 connects Nairobi CBD with Ruiru using the Thika Road corridor.
Where do I board Route 145 in Nairobi?
Route 145 to Ruiru has been documented as boarding from Mumbi Lane off Ronald Ngala Street in Nairobi CBD.
Does Route 145 use Thika Road?
Yes. Thika Road is the principal transport corridor used by Route 145.
Does Route 145 pass Roysambu?
Yes. Route 145 travels through the Roysambu section of Thika Road on its way towards Ruiru.
Does Route 145 pass Githurai?
Yes. Githurai is one of the major areas along Route 145 before the service continues towards Kahawa and Ruiru.
Does Route 145 go to Ruiru?
Yes. Ruiru is the principal destination associated with Route 145.
Can I use Route 145 to get to Kimbo?
Route 145 has been documented serving the Ruiru/Kimbo corridor. Passengers should confirm with the conductor that the particular service reaches their required Kimbo stop.
Does Route 145 go to Thika?
Route 145 is principally associated with Ruiru. Passengers travelling farther to Thika should look for a Thika-bound service such as Route 237 and confirm the destination before boarding.
Route 145 at a Glance
Route Number: 145
Route: Nairobi CBD ↔ Ruiru
Main Corridor: Thika Road
Key Areas: Ruaraka, Roysambu, Githurai, Kahawa, Ruiru
CBD Boarding Area: Mumbi Lane off Ronald Ngala Street
Main Destination: Ruiru
Destination County: Kiambu County
Route stages, fares, stops and operating arrangements can change. Metros Kenya periodically reviews its Nairobi matatu route information to provide commuters with useful and up-to-date travel information.
