After years of delays and dashed promises, Kenya is set to begin the dualing of the long-awaited Rironi–Mau Summit highway.
President William Ruto has confirmed that work on the 170-kilometre stretch will start on November 28, 2025 — a move many hope will finally ease the painful gridlock between Nairobi and Western Kenya, but which is also drawing scrutiny over costs, tolls and fairness.
The Rironi–Mau Summit highway, part of the busy Northern Corridor connecting Nairobi to the Rift Valley and the country’s western counties, has long been plagued by congestion, accidents and delays.
The government plans to transform the current single-carriageway into a dual carriageway — four lanes from Rironi to Naivasha, and six lanes between Naivasha and Nakuru.
Under a public-private partnership, a consortium including China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has been selected to build and maintain the road under a 30-year concession.
Officials say the upgrade is about more than smoother driving — it’s a boost for national trade, regional connectivity and economic growth. On Tuesday, the government clarified that existing roads will remain open, giving those unwilling or unable to pay tolls a free alternative.
What the Rironi–Mau Summit Upgrade Promises
The new highway — officially dubbed the Rironi–Naivasha–Mau Summit expressway — is expected to drastically cut travel time, enhance safety, and improve the movement of goods between Nairobi, Nakuru, western Kenya, and beyond.
Proponents also highlight the likely economic spin-offs: reduced costs for freight, smoother supply-chain operations, and easier regional trade links. The expressway is seen as critical to the future of the broader Northern Corridor linking Kenya to Uganda, South Sudan and DR Congo.
The project also reflects Kenya’s growing partnership with Chinese firms, which have played a key role in recent infrastructure developments including the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway.
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Tolls, Equity and Public Concerns
Despite excitement over the upgrade, the new plans have sparked debate. Under the terms confirmed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), motorists will pay KSh 8 per kilometre if they choose to use the expressway, with a 1% annual increase to accommodate inflation. Trucks and larger vehicles will pay more.
That price tag has some commuters worried. Many fear the tolls could hurt low-income travellers and small business owners who rely on affordable transport.
Others question whether the free alternate routes will be properly maintained — or whether traffic will simply shift and cause jams elsewhere. Civil society groups are calling for transparency around tolling, and for assurances that the old road remains viable.
Economists argue the dual-option model — toll expressway plus free alternative — is a reasonable compromise that balances modern infrastructure with fairness. But critics say the arrangement may still deepen inequality, favouring those who can pay while marginalising ordinary citizens.
Delays in awarding the final contract have also raised eyebrows. In early November, KeNHA clarified that no construction contract had yet been formally awarded, but that negotiations with the preferred bidder are ongoing.
As Nairobi and Rift Valley motorists await the official November 28 groundbreaking, many questions remain unanswered: Will tolls be affordable over time? Will free alternatives remain properly maintained? Will safety and environmental safeguards be enforced along the route’s steep and often fog-prone terrain?
Kenyan commuters are hopeful — but cautious. For decades, the Rironi–Mau Summit stretch has stood as a barrier to smooth travel and trade. If authorities deliver on their promises, and ensure fairness and transparency along the way, the new expressway could become a crucial trade artery and a symbol of Kenya’s growing infrastructure ambition. Yet if mismanaged, it may deepen inequities and revive long-standing frustrations with costly toll roads.
Read More: https://thevoice.co.ke/govt-defends-makongeni-demolitions-as-residents-voice-concerns/