President William Samoei Ruto launched the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Road (A8) and the Nairobi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha Project on November 28, 2025, in Kiambu County, calling it the "dawn of a new era" for Kenya, as the project is being termed debt-free.
He declared that this project was about laying the foundation for a Kenya reborn, driven by ambition and determination. He stated that this initiative represents an investment of over 170 billion shillings and will utilise a world-class Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, positioning Kenya as a leader in innovative financing and modern transport.
Speaking during the launch, the President addressed the country's historic development dilemma, that major infrastructure projects were previously constrained by three untenable choices.
“Relying on the national budget was impossible as a single highway could consume nearly half of the entire annual development budget.” He stated.
Ruto added that borrowing was deemed untenable due to the existing debt burden and limited fiscal headroom. He added that the third option, to slow down development, was never an option. The President asserted that this reliance on unsustainable financing led to a stagnation born out of helplessness and a quiet paralysis.
“The decision to proceed with the Public-private partnership (PPP) model is a strategy to break those chains, allowing the government to work smarter and in partnership with the private sector." He urged.
The highway project comprises two sections: the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Road, which stretches 175 kilometres, and the Nairobi-Maai Mahiu-Naivasha Road, which adds 58 more kilometres. Both corridors will be modernised into multi-lane dual carriageways.
The Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit corridor will be strengthened to accommodate heavy commercial traffic, supported by new interchanges, dedicated truck lanes, pedestrian bridges, and intelligent transportation technology.
The Nairobi-Maai Mahiu-Naivasha section will be upgraded to link efficiently to the Naivasha Inland Container Depot and the emerging industrial ecosystem. This entire corridor is a vital artery that connects Nairobi to regional partners, including Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is expected to unlock faster, safer, and more efficient movement of people and goods.
The president also noted that the project is expected to generate thousands of jobs, with 15,000 young Kenyans gaining expertise during construction, ensuring local contentment and Kenyan businesses at the centre.
“The government welcomes the expertise of its Chinese partners to strengthen the projects and build local capacity. This highway launch is part of a broader roadmap for a first-world economy,” He asserted.
He added that future commitments included breaking ground on other major dual-carriageway corridors across the Republic, expanding and upgrading airports and ports, and extending the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba, starting in January 2026.
