Rironi-Naivasha Highway section to open in August

Motorists travelling between Nairobi and Nakuru will get relief in August this year when the government opens the newly upgraded Rironi–Naivasha section of the Nairobi–Nakuru highway to traffic.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said on Thursday that the partial opening is part of a phased plan to ease congestion along the busy corridor, even as construction continues on the remaining sections towards Mau Summit.

“We will finish the Rironi–Naivasha section and open it for traffic by August,” he said when he appeared before the Senate Energy Committee.

“After that, we will continue with work towards Mai Mahiu and the rest of the corridor.”

The CS assured lawmakers that the entire Rironi–Mau Summit stretch will be completed by June 2027, with construction works set to intensify beginning next month.

“About the Rironi–Mau Summit highway, starting next month, I want to promise to deliver this road as a ministry by June 2027,” he told the senators.

To fast-track implementation of the long-awaited project, the Ministry of Transport has adopted a multi-front construction strategy that will see 24 subcontractors deployed simultaneously along the 175-kilometre corridor.

The project has been divided into two major sections to prevent delays that often affect large infrastructure works.

Chirchir said 12 subcontractors will handle the Rironi–Gilgil stretch under China Road and Bridge Corporation, while another 12 will work on the Gilgil–Mau Summit section being implemented by Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International.

“Beginning next month, we will be deploying 12 gangs on the CRBC section from Rironi to Gilgil and another 12 gangs from Gilgil to Mau Summit,” Chirchir said.

The simultaneous deployment is expected to accelerate progress and ensure continuous construction across multiple segments of the highway.

The upgraded road will form part of the A8 corridor, one of the country’s busiest highways, carrying heavy passenger and cargo traffic between Nairobi, western Kenya and neighbouring countries.

President William Ruto launched the construction of the project in November 2025.

Once completed, the Rironi–Mau Summit highway will operate as a toll road. However, the government has put in place alternative routes for motorists who may prefer non-toll options.

Among the alternative corridors is the Kijabe route, commonly known as the Mau Mau Road, which descends the escarpment and is currently being upgraded. The recently completed Ngong–Suswa road will also serve as another diversion to ease traffic flow.

Chirchir said the alternative roads are intended to reduce pressure on the main highway and provide flexibility for road users once tolling begins.

The Nairobi–Nakuru highway is a key segment of the Northern Corridor, the region’s main transport artery linking the Port of Mombasa to landlocked countries including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For years, the single carriageway has been plagued by heavy congestion, frequent accidents and long travel times, raising transport costs and slowing the movement of goods across the region.

The ongoing expansion and upgrade works are expected to significantly cut travel time between Nairobi and Nakuru, improve road safety and enhance efficiency in cargo transportation.

The government says the accelerated construction plan reflects the strategic importance of the highway to Kenya’s economy and its role as a regional trade hub.