The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a traffic advisory for motorists ahead of the official launch of the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit (A8) Highway.
The launch, scheduled for Friday, November 28, 2025, will be officiated by President William Ruto at various points along the road.
KeNHA, in a notice on Wednesday, warned that the event is expected to cause significant congestion throughout the day, affecting travel along the entire highway.
The authority, in turn, advised motorists planning to use the route to reschedule their travel or consider alternative corridors.
Recommended alternative routes include:
- Ngong – Suswa – Narok – Mau Narok – Njoro – Nakuru
- Nairobi – Thika – Magumu – Njabini – Ol Kalou – Nakuru
- Nakuru – Kampi ya Moto – Ravine – Makutano
- Nakuru – Njoro – Molo – Mau Summit
“We urge all motorists plying these sections of the road to replan their journeys accordingly, and any inconvenience is regretted.”
The launch comes after KeNHA revealed that the expansion of the Rironi–Mau Summit Expressway was restructured into two sections to accommodate two consortiums, including Chinese firms and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
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This followed a $1 billion investment cap on Chinese state-owned enterprises, which requires a lengthy internal review before approval.
KeNHA said the restructuring was necessary after negotiations for the original full-corridor plan for the 233km Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit and Nairobi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha PPP project failed.
Both the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC)–NSSF and Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International (SDRBI) indicated they could not proceed under current Chinese outbound-investment rules.
Under the new arrangement approved by the PPP Committee on November 10, CRBC–NSSF will handle the Nairobi–Naivasha–Gilgil segment and the Nairobi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha (A8 South) road covering about 139km, while SDRBI will construct the 94km Gilgil–Mau Summit section.
Rironi–Mau Summit Road project split- KeNHA
KeNHA confirmed that full-corridor negotiations collapsed after CRBC said adjustments to accommodate the investment cap would amount to “material changes” barred under Section 57(3) of the PPP Act.
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SDRBI also declined to take on the full scope, prompting adoption of the split-corridor model.
“In accordance with the Public Disclosure Circular dated 24th April 2025, and to promote competition and openness in Privately Initiated Proposals, the public is hereby notified that any other qualified Private Party with the technical and financial capacity may, within the statutory timelines, submit a competing Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) for the Project, in line with the provisions of the PPP Act, 2021 and associated Regulations,” the authority said.
“Pursuant to the above approvals, KeNHA shall commence negotiations with the two Proponents for the respective sections of the Project road in accordance with Section 57 of the PPP Act, Cap 430, culminating in the signing of the Project Agreements, and subsequently the commencement of the Project.”
Motorists are expected to pay Ksh8 per kilometre once the dual-carriageway upgrade is complete, a tariff KeNHA says is more affordable than the Ksh10 proposed by SDRBI under its previous full-corridor plan.
The 175km Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit stretch is projected to cost about Ksh90 billion and is scheduled for completion by June 2027, less than half the Ksh190 billion quoted by a French consortium before the deal was cancelled over cost concerns.
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