The Government, through the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Directorate at the National Treasury, has partnered with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to begin preparatory activities for the Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba Road upgrade project.
In a statement issued on Wednesday February 4, the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management announced the commencement of early-stage project activities, beginning with the rollout of a pre-feasibility study.
The pre-feasibility study, financed by the AIIB and to be conducted by a joint venture of CPICS (Canada) and Avatech Engineering (Kenya), will run for approximately four months and evaluate the project’s technical, economic, environmental, and financial feasibility.
According to the Director General of the PPP Directorate, Kefa Seda, the study will help inform project structuring and guide subsequent preparation stages, including detailed engineering and financial modelling.
The government has also initiated the procurement process for a comprehensive feasibility study and transaction advisory services, with the selected consultant expected to be appointed in the second quarter of 2026.
According to the statement, the Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba corridor forms part of the Northern Corridor, a key regional trade and logistics route linking Kenya to Uganda and the wider East and Central African region.
Plagued by heavy traffic, frequent congestion, and rising accident rates, the road is set for expansion into a dual carriageway to boost safety and ease traffic movement.
Subject to statutory approvals and completion of project preparation, the government plans to implement a competitive PPP procurement process, with the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) targeted for the third quarter of 2026, followed by the Request for Proposals (RFP) in the first quarter of 2027.
The government expects to have signed all legal contracts by mid-2027, at which point the selected private partner will take over the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the upgraded road.
The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging the PPP framework to mobilize private investment and accelerate infrastructure delivery.
This development follows the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) approving a Ksh408,586,500 grant to support the preparation of the Mau Summit–Malaba road project in Beijing on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Transport revealed that construction of the Rironi–Mau Summit Highway was progressing steadily, with 25 km currently under construction, to ensure the entire Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret-Malaba stretch was upgraded.
