KeNHA: Why Motorists Will Pay To Use Rironi-Mau Summit Expressway
KeNHA further indicated that the toll charges will rise by one percent every year to cushion against inflation and changes in foreign exchange rates.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Motorists using the soon-to-be-opened Rironi–Mau Summit Expressway will be charged a minimum toll fee of Ksh 8 per kilometre, according to new details from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
KeNHA further indicated that the toll charges will rise by one percent annually to cushion against inflation and changes in foreign exchange rates.
The initial toll proposal was submitted by a consortium made up of the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Board of Trustees, who were chosen as the preferred developers for the project.
Photo of a toll station. /CONSTRUCTION TODAY
“Based on comparative assessment, the Evaluation Committee concluded that China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC) & National Social Security Fund Trustees (NSSF) align with the Contracting Authority’s Output Specifications and PPP Act Cap 430 requirements with a proposed toll rate of Ksh 8 per Km with a 1percent escalation rate per annum,” a notice by KeNHA read in part.
KeNHA has revealed that the new expressway will have eight toll stations and will operate under an open tolling system, meaning motorists will only pay for the distance they actually travel.
Spanning 175 kilometres, the road will include 15 interchanges, eight pedestrian bridges, 25 kilometres of service lanes, eight wildlife crossings, 41 U-turns, 41 underpasses, and 118 bus bays.
The base toll rate of Ksh8 per kilometre will apply to passenger cars and small four-wheel vehicles. The highway is projected to be fully operational by 2028.
KeNHA selected the consortium of CRBC and NSSF to design, build, and operate the road under a 30-year concession agreement. CRBC is the same firm behind the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
The National Treasury has already approved the Ksh200 billion project after its proposal was cleared by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Committee.
According to KeNHA, construction is expected to begin before January 2026 and take approximately two years to complete.
The four-lane expressway will start at Rironi in Kiambu County, pass through Nyandarua, and end at Mau Summit in Nakuru County.
The construction of the Rironi-Mau Summit Road has faced delays in recent years, including the termination of a contract previously awarded to a French company. Following the cancellation, the government shifted its focus to securing funding from China to proceed with the project.
The expressway is expected to address challenges surrounding the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway which has been notorious for prolonged traffic jams, especially near areas like Kimende and Rironi, with some drivers stranded for hours or even overnight.
