A series of public stakeholder engagements for the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit (A8) and Nairobi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha (A8 South) roads will officially conclude next week, marking a significant step toward the implementation of one of Kenya’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
The forums, spearheaded by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), have been taking place across three counties since early September.
The exercise began on September 2 in Kiambu County, with meetings held in Limuru and Uplands, before moving to Nyandarua County at Flyover.
In Nakuru County, engagements were hosted in Naivasha, Mau Summit, and Salgaa. Today, KeNHA is meeting stakeholders in Nakuru and Gilgil, while the final forum is scheduled for September 8 in Mai Mahiu.
KeNHA has described the consultations as a critical step in ensuring communities and institutions affected by the projects are heard and their input incorporated into the plans.
The forums also serve to update stakeholders on the project’s feasibility study, outline its potential benefits and impacts, provide timelines, and clarify roles while addressing concerns and gathering feedback.
The authority further revealed that the feasibility study has been updated, with recommendations for the project to proceed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Currently, the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit and Nairobi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha roads are in the Project Development Phase (PDP). This phase involves detailed traffic studies, geotechnical assessments, preliminary designs, and environmental safeguard activities.
On May 23, 2025, KeNHA received two Privately Initiated Proposals (PIPs) for the project’s development.
One was submitted by Shandong Hi-Speed Road & Bridge International Engineering Co. Ltd (SDRBI), while the other came from a consortium comprising China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Both proposals were evaluated by KeNHA and the Public Private Partnerships Directorate at the National Treasury and subsequently approved to proceed to the PDP stage.
The two highways are part of the Northern Corridor, one of the busiest transport arteries in East and Central Africa.
The corridor links the port of Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while directly serving more than six million Kenyans.
Expanding the capacity of the roads is expected to ease congestion, cut travel times, improve safety, and boost regional integration.
“The project will accommodate increasing traffic in a safe, efficient, and sustainable manner, while contributing to Kenya’s socio-economic growth,” KeNHA said in a statement.
According to the authority, the project also strengthens Kenya’s PPP agenda by providing modern infrastructure that meets national development needs transparently and accountably. It aligns with Vision 2030 as well as the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit PPP project was first conceptualised in 2016 following an initial feasibility study prepared with World Bank support. Nearly a decade later, it has regained momentum with renewed government commitment and private sector interest.
Stakeholders are expected to give final feedback at the closing session in Mai Mahiu, paving the way for the next stage of preparations toward implementation.
