President William Ruto during a public engagement at the Molo Technical & Vocational College, Elburgon, Nakuru County/PCSPresident William Ruto has revealed plans to extend the expansion of the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit highway further into Western Kenya.
Speaking at the launch of the Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme in Nakuru County on Monday, the president outlined that the road project would extend from Mau Summit westwards to Kericho and Kisumu, while another branch will stretch from Mau Summit to Eldoret and onward to the Malaba border with Uganda.
“The expansion will not stop in Mau Summit. I want it to go to Kericho and then Kisumu and another to extend to Eldoret and then Malaba border,” President Ruto stated.
The expansion project is slated to commence next month, with Ruto noting that progress is already underway due to the involvement of the private sector through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
“If we would have said to use the national government budget, we would not have managed. We have to think outside the box if we have to build enough roads in Kenya, we have to bring investment from the private sector,” the President explained.
The President defended the government’s choice of the PPP model, highlighting its role as the only sustainable approach to financing large infrastructure projects without straining the national budget.
He urged MPs to fast-track the enactment of the Infrastructure Bond legislation to support timely delivery of the government’s ambitious development goals.
“We need to entrench the Infrastructure Bond into law to enable the government to deliver on its development pursuits in time,” President Ruto said.
The Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit highway expansion involves significant upgrades, including a four-lane dual carriageway from Nairobi to Naivasha, passing through Mai Mahiu with a major interchange at Naivasha.
The section from Naivasha to Nakuru will be expanded into a six-lane dual carriageway.
Ruto emphasised that this road will play a critical role in decongesting traffic along the heavily traveled Nairobi–Nakuru corridor and significantly reduce travel time for both motorists and cargo transporters.
The National Treasury has given the green light for the construction of the Rironi–Mau Summit highway, following the approval of the project proposal by the Treasury’s Public-Private Partnership Committee.
The committee confirmed that the feasibility study submitted by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund Trustees (NSSF) met all necessary requirements.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) will oversee the project, which will cover over 230 kilometers, stretching from Rironi to Mau Summit (A8) and branching off to Naivasha via Maai Mahiu (A8 South).
In Nakuru town, a full viaduct section will be constructed
to maintain smooth urban flow.
