Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has confirmed that construction on the long-awaited dualing of the Rironi–Nakuru highway will begin before the end of August 2025.
Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, July 16, Chirchir said the project will be implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with the contractor evaluation process currently underway.
“The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) will undertake the dualing under a PPP model. Contractors are being assessed, and if all goes as planned, we will break ground by the end of August,” the CS told Senators.
While the Rironi–Nakuru section is ready to move forward, plans for extending the dual carriageway to Eldoret are still under development, with no confirmed timelines yet.
Chirchir also revealed that the Rironi–Mai Mahiu–Naivasha road will serve as an alternative bypass to help ease congestion during construction and beyond.
He added that geo-technical teams are already on-site conducting soil assessments along the proposed route. “We’ve given them ten days to complete the drilling and tests,” Chirchir noted, urging stakeholders to accelerate their inputs to avoid delays.
The Rironi–Nakuru–Eldoret highway forms part of the Northern Corridor, a vital route linking Nairobi to western Kenya and landlocked neighbours including Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
Once completed, the dual carriageway is expected to ease chronic traffic congestion, enhance road safety, and significantly cut travel time for both private and commercial vehicles.
For years, motorists and transport sector stakeholders have decried deteriorating conditions along the highway, citing frequent accidents, heavy traffic, and the corridor’s importance to regional trade.
However, the project’s funding plan has drawn mixed reactions. As part of the PPP arrangement, the government plans to toll specific sections of the highway—a move that has been criticised by motorists and civil society groups.
KeNHA has clarified that toll rates will be set in accordance with the National Tolling Policy and may be reviewed periodically in line with official guidelines.
Despite concerns over tolling, there is broad agreement among stakeholders that the project is long overdue and essential for boosting economic connectivity across the region.
