Ruto: Rironi–Mau Summit Road dualling will ease Safari Rally congestion

President William Ruto speaking during the 2026 WRC in Naivasha on March 15, 2026 / PCS

President William Ruto has assured Kenyans that traffic congestion experienced along the Nairobi–Naivasha highway during the annual WRC Safari Rally Kenya will soon be a thing of the past.

The President said the government is fast-tracking the dualling of the Rironi–Nakuru road, a key section of the Rironi–Mau Summit Road corridor.

Speaking during the rally’s closing events, the Nairobi–Naivasha highway is the main route used by thousands of motorsport fans travelling from the capital to Naivasha to attend the rally stages.

“This will be the last Safari Rally Kenyans will have to endure traffic congestion on the Nairobi–Naivasha highway. By next year, the government will have completed the dualling of the Rironi–Nakuru section of the Rironi–Mau Summit road,” Ruto said.

During the rally period, the road often experiences heavy traffic as spectators, rally teams, and logistics vehicles move to and from the event venues.

The dualling of the Rironi–Nakuru stretch is expected to ease congestion along the busy transport corridor while improving connectivity between Nairobi and the Rift Valley region.

The annual Safari Rally Kenya is one of the most popular motorsport events in the country and forms part of the World Rally Championship calendar, attracting thousands of local and international spectators to Naivasha.

In November 2025, President Ruto announced that the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road will be completed by 2027.

He said the Madaraka Day celebrations in 2027 will be held at Afraha Stadium when the deadline for the construction is set. 

“I have directed the contractors to finish up the work by 2027. I have told them that by the time we celebrate Madaraka Day on June 1, 20277, the Rironi–Mau Summit should be complete," he said. 

He added that two contractors would begin work simultaneously, one from Rironi and the other from Gilgil, to speed up delivery.

The project is to be delivered through a public–private partnership by a consortium including China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

It is expected to ease chronic congestion, reduce frequent accidents and shorten travel time along the key route.

Under the plan, the highway will feature a four-lane dual carriageway from Rironi to Naivasha and a six-lane dual carriageway between Naivasha and Nakuru. 

The President said he rejected an earlier proposal for a smaller two-lane upgrade, terming it inadequate for the region’s rising traffic volumes. 

The dualing is part of a wider infrastructure push by the government aimed at improving transport efficiency and boosting regional connectivity across major economic zones. 

Ruto said the projects represent a shift in how Kenya finances major infrastructure. 

He explained that relying on the national budget, borrowing, or slowing development were no longer viable options.