The expansion of the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway has entered a crucial stage as two Chinese firms; China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Shandong Hi Speed Road & Bridge, have submitted detailed proposals for the multibillion-shilling project.
Speaking after a high-level meeting with the National Treasury and the Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), acting KeNHA Director General Eng. Luka Kimeli confirmed that the project is on track to break ground before the end of the year.
“The project development plan will be ready by August 25. We are working in line with the president’s directive to deliver this legacy road by December 2025,” said Kimeli, calling the project “core to President Ruto’s administration.”
“The Rironi-Mau Summit highway is long overdue. For years, Kenyans have spent their holidays stuck on the road instead of celebrating with loved ones. But this time will be different. The President has pledged to deliver this critical project as part of his legacy. We MUST build it.” he added.
The National Treasury has approved the two Privately Initiated Proposals (PIPs), allowing the project to proceed to the next stage.
Once a final proponent is selected, the project will move into full development under the PPP model, similar to the Nairobi Expressway. As such, motorists will pay toll fees for up to 30 years as investors recoup their financing.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the government is fast-tracking the procurement process, especially for the Rironi–Naivasha–Mau Summit section, which has long been notorious for crippling traffic gridlocks.
“Sometimes people are sleeping on this road. We know Kenyans have suffered,” said Chirchir. “We are finalizing procurement to get construction started without further delay.”
The CS also revealed that the government has unlocked pending bills, injecting cash into previously stalled road projects, among them Mombasa-Mtwapa-Kilifi, Cheptiret–Eldoret–Leseru, and the Machakos-based Devki–Kananie Leather Park road.
He admitted that many contractors were in dire financial condition due to delayed payments.
The 233km Rironi–Mau Summit project is seen as a vital artery for the Northern Corridor, linking Nairobi to Uganda and the Great Lakes region. Its completion promises to slash travel times, boost regional trade, and improve road safety.
If all goes to plan, construction is expected to begin in late 2025, offering a long-overdue reprieve for weary motorists—and a major political win for the Ruto administration.
