Ruto Announces Expansion Of Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway To Malaba

President William Ruto has unveiled plans to extend the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway to additional western counties — among them Kericho, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Busia — even as debate intensifies over the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model being used to fund the project.

Speaking in Nakuru County on Monday during the launch of the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme, Ruto said his administration intends for the road to benefit more Kenyans beyond Nakuru.

“Next month (November), the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit road will begin. I do not want the road to end at Mau Summit but to extend to Kericho, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Malaba,” the President said.

He further emphasized that the project is a cornerstone of his government’s plan to improve connectivity and boost trade across the corridor.

Defending the use of the PPP model, Ruto argued that it remains the most viable approach to deliver major infrastructure projects without straining public finances.

“We cannot continue as usual if we want to hit great development milestones. That is why we found it important to bring in the private sector,” he stated.

Infrastructure Bond and PPP

The President explained that the government’s fiscal capacity could not accommodate such an ambitious project through traditional funding.

He said the administration would instead turn to new financing tools, including a dedicated Infrastructure Bond, to raise resources from the capital markets.

Ruto urged Members of Parliament to fast-track legislation anchoring the Infrastructure Bond into law, saying it would help the government meet its development targets on schedule.

The Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit highway will consist of a four-lane dual carriageway from Nairobi to Naivasha via Mai Mahiu, featuring a major interchange at Naivasha. From Naivasha to Nakuru, the road will expand into a six-lane dual carriageway.

According to Ruto, the expanded highway will help ease congestion along the Nairobi–Nakuru route, shorten travel times for motorists and cargo transporters, and align with Kenya’s wider goal of modernising transport networks and deepening regional integration.

Construction Approval

The National Treasury has already approved the construction of the Rironi–Mau Summit highway after its Public-Private Partnership Committee cleared the project proposal.

The committee determined that the feasibility report submitted by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Trustees met all required conditions.

Road Tolling

Still, critics have questioned the PPP model, warning that it could push up toll charges and deny motorists access to non-toll alternatives.

The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has been among the loudest voices opposing the deal, faulting the government for handing the project to a private consortium — a move it described as “discriminatory” and a potential “threat to Kenya’s sovereignty.”

According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), motorists using the Rironi–Mau Summit Expressway will pay a toll of at least Ksh8 per kilometre.

The rate will also be reviewed annually, with a one per cent adjustment to account for inflation and exchange rate shifts.

Photo of a toll station. /CONSTRUCTION TODAY