The Ministry of Transport has revealed that construction of the Rironi–Mau Summit Highway is progressing steadily, with a total of 25 km currently under construction.
In a statement on Saturday, January 10, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir confirmed that the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is undertaking the first 5km at Rironi and 5km at Gilgil.
On the other hand, the Shandong Construction Company has kick-started works on 10 km at Kariandusi and 5 km at Mau Summit.
The transport boss assured that the two companies will also open other construction sites in the coming days as the project continues to gain pace.
"Today, I inspected the ongoing construction works along the Rironi–Mau Summit Highway," the CS said. These are just part of the initial works programme. I expect work to ramp up in more sites along the way in the coming days," Chirchir said.
"I expressed my satisfaction with the project's progress and commended the contractors for their commendable pace of work and swift mobilisation on site, noting the positive momentum in the delivery of this critical infrastructure project," he added.
President William Ruto launched the construction of the highly anticipated project on Friday, November 28, 2025.
The Ksh170 billion project is set to utilise a world-class Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, meaning that the funding of the project will be locally sourced.
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 project is expected to be completed by 2028 and will feature several features, including interchanges, dedicated truck lanes, pedestrian bridges, and intelligent transportation technology.
The road aims to streamline traffic flow on the route, which is a vital artery that connects Nairobi to regional partners, including Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The CS is optimistic that the project will be fundamental in job creation along the route, as well as unlocking the untapped economic potential of the western region.
"The dualling of the Road is very critical as it aims to reduce congestion, improve road safety, and facilitate the movement of goods and passengers between Nairobi, Nakuru, Western Kenya, and our East African neighbours, thereby promoting regional integration and boosting trade," Chirchir said.
