The planned upgrade of the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit and Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha highways is edging closer to reality following a detailed project disclosure by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
In a notice dated May 27, KeNHA confirmed receipt of two Project Information Proposals (PIPs) from two Chinese firms.
One of the proposals was submitted by a consortium of China Road and Bridge Corporation Kenya (CRBC) in partnership with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
The other one came from Shandong Hi-Speed Road & Bridge International Engineering Co., Ltd, an established Chinese infrastructure contractor with a growing footprint in Africa.
According to KeNHA, the project, structured under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), will ease traffic congestion, is set to greatly reduce travel time, and improve road safety along the transport corridor once complete.
“The route experiences heavy traffic due to the movement of goods and people, playing a vital role in trade and regional connectivity within East Africa,” the notice reads.
“Given the fiscal constraints in Kenya, the PPP model allows for leveraging private sector expertise and resources to deliver critical infrastructure projects.”
The road upgrade will span Rironi to Mau Summit and Rironi to Naivasha, traversing the counties of Kiambu, Nakuru, and Nyandarua.
Under the PPP model, the project encompasses design, building, financing, operation, maintenance, and transfer (DBFOMT) over a long-term concession.
The investor will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the road infrastructure and associated facilities for a defined period of 30 years, after which the road will be transferred to the public sector.
The anticipated development will see the transformation of the current highway into a modern dual carriageway with enhanced tolling systems, improved interchanges, safety features, and service lanes.
The construction is scheduled to commence in June 2025 and be completed in June 2027.
Key project features include the upgrade and expansion of the 175-km A8 highway and 58-km A8 South highway and the establishment of a tolling system compliant with Kenya’s National Tolling Policy.
Others are decongestion of the Nairobi–Nakuru corridor, enhanced road safety and regional trade facilitation, and environmental and social safeguards implementation.
These firms are expected to meet strict technical and financial benchmarks in line with the government’s PPP strategy.
The preferred bidder, KeNHA said, will enter into a concession agreement with KeNHA to undertake the project’s implementation and toll operations.
Expected outputs are multi-lane dual carriageway expansion, upgraded interchanges and bypasses, dedicated pedestrian and cyclist facilities and road safety features like guardrails, signage, and lighting.
The A8 corridor is a critical Class A highway facilitating movement between Nairobi and western Kenya, as well as regional trade with Uganda and beyond.
The project aligns with Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals and the Medium Term Plan IV (2023–2027), which prioritizes transport infrastructure upgrades.
The public disclosure, according to KENHA, has been made in line with the government’s commitment to transparency across all its initiatives.
“This disclosure has been made to notify members of the public of the Privately-Initiated Proposals (PIPs) submitted by the Proponents,” KeNHA stated.
The proposals, it said, will now be subjected to the necessary evaluation processes.
"KeNHA, as the Contracting Authority, in collaboration with the Public Private Partnerships Directorate and the National Treasury, will carry out all required procedures in accordance with the applicable laws," it said.
"The public will be updated on any relevant developments as permitted by law."
The agency also reiterated its unwavering commitment to delivering critical infrastructure that serves the needs of its people.
However, it has stated that the disclosure does not constitute an approval of the submitted proposals by either the Contracting Authority or the PPP Directorate.
The advisory team includes the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Roads and Transport, the National Treasury, the PPP Directorate, independent legal, technical, traffic, environmental, and financial experts.
The government, through the Treasury, carried out a feasibility study on the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau summit road in 2016.
The study assessed the project’s viability based on traffic, environmental impact, economic benefits, legal, financing and technical feasibility.
It recommended that the project be implemented on a PPP framework.
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