President William Ruto has announced that the dualling of the 170km Rironi-Naivasha-Mau Summit road will commence in about 10 days on November 28, 2025.

The announcement followed a key meeting at State House, Nairobi, between President Ruto and Zhang Bingman, President of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), whose subsidiary, China Roads and Bridges Corporation (CRBC), will undertake the construction.

During the meeting that also brought together key officials from the Roads sector, led by Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Ruto described the project as a major milestone for the Northern Corridor, which links Nairobi to Western Kenya. 

“The dualling of the 170km Rironi-Naivasha-Mau Summit road begins on November 28, 2025. This will facilitate movement, boost trade, and end decades of traffic gridlock, congestion, delays, and disastrous road incidents,” he said.

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President Ruto announced that on the same day, his government will also break ground for the 58km dualling of the Rironi-Maai Mahiu-Naivasha road, an initiative the government eyes to further improve connectivity in the southern part of the country.

Ruto pointed out during the meeting that Kenya’s infrastructure sector has advanced significantly due to these partnerships, citing successful projects like the Standard Gauge Railway, Nairobi Expressway, and numerous road constructions.

“Infrastructure development in our country has made a huge leap forward courtesy of the strong and deep relations between Kenya and China, and Chinese companies,” Ruto added. 

It has emerged that Kenya may partner with China and its companies on additional key projects, including the extension of the railway to Kisumu and Malaba, as well as the construction of the Galana Dam in Tana River County, further strengthening the nation’s strategic infrastructure development, as announced by the president. 

“Consequently, we have been able to implement key flagship projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway, Nairobi Expressway, and many roads. Major infrastructure projects by our partners are underway, including the Talanta Sports City, 21 other stadia, the Bomas Convention Centre, and the Lamu-Ijara-Garissa road,” the president stated. 

Meanwhile, President Zhang emphasised his company’s commitment to delivering the project on time and to high standards, highlighting the long-standing partnership between China and Kenya in major infrastructure developments across the country.

The planned construction had faced delays in recent months as the government finalised funding arrangements, eventually opting for a Public-Private Partnership model that would see motorists tolled to use the road. This decision has sparked backlash and criticism from drivers.

On November 5, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) announced plans to map out alternative routes for motorists who may wish to avoid paying tolls along the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway once construction begins.

The announcement followed concerns from stakeholders, including the Motorists Association of Kenya, which criticised the plan to toll the entire road without providing alternative non-toll routes.  

Once completed, the project will feature modern dual carriageways, service lanes, and tolling infrastructure designed to improve safety, mobility, and trade efficiency along the corridor.