Kenyans are set to witness construction on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway begin in July after President William Ruto directed that the long-delayed project should finally take off.
The announcement was made on Thursday, May 15, by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during a visit to Nakuru County. Speaking on behalf of the President, Kindiki confirmed that the expansion of the Rironi-Mau Summit road will commence within the next two months, with contractors expected to be on site by July 1.
The project will involve expanding the existing single-lane road into a 170-kilometer four-lane carriageway. It will be implemented through a public-private partnership arrangement and is expected to cost Ksh90 billion.
According to Kindiki, the Ministry of Roads has already been instructed to ensure construction begins without further delay and is completed in good time. He said Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has been tasked with overseeing the works.
The Deputy President said the road upgrade will help reduce the number of accidents that occur along the route and make transportation more efficient between the Rift Valley, Western, and Nyanza regions.
He noted that the move will ease the movement of people and goods, which has been a major challenge due to frequent congestion and poor road conditions on the current stretch.This announcement comes shortly after the government signed a new deal with the Chinese government to support the expansion.
A previous agreement with French contractors had been cancelled after the Kenya National Highways Authority reviewed the terms and requested changes.
When the French firms declined to accept the revised conditions, the project was terminated. As a result of the cancellation, Kenya will now pay the French contractors Ksh6.2 billion for ending the agreement early.
The change in contractors and delay in execution had raised concerns among residents and transporters who rely heavily on the busy highway.
Many users have long complained about the poor state of the road, which has contributed to increased travel time, high vehicle maintenance costs, and loss of lives through road accidents.
The new timeline gives some clarity on when the work will begin, but concerns remain on whether the implementation will be smooth and free from further disruption. With the cost already high and compensation to the French firms settled, there is pressure on the government to ensure this time the project is delivered as promised.
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