The government has confirmed that construction work to dual the Rironi–Nakuru and Nakuru–Eldoret highways will officially kick off by the end of August 2025.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir made the announcement on Wednesday, July 16, while he was speaking to the Senate. He stated that the long-awaited expansion will proceed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal, in which private investors are allowed to fund, build, and maintain the project.
Chirchir said several concessionaires have already expressed interest and are currently undergoing the development phase.
“We have gotten a number of concession proponents, and they are currently going through the development phase. We expect to break ground before the end of August, all going well,” he added.
The project will greatly improve traffic flow, cut travel times, and boost the movement of passengers and merchandise along the busy Northern Corridor. The vital route links Nairobi to western Kenya and also enables cross-border trade with Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The development comes weeks after President William Ruto announced that designs and technical preparations were nearing completion, setting the stage for groundbreaking within two months. Speaking at State House Nairobi on June 11 during a meeting with Nakuru County leaders, Ruto said the government had reached agreements with contractors and urged them to accelerate delivery.
“We have agreed with the contractors to speed up the project and complete it by 2027. If not, they should have done a substantial portion of it by that time,” Ruto said.
Ruto also outlined the road’s layout: the Rironi–Mau Summit section will be expanded to four lanes from Rironi to Naivasha, including the Maai Mahiu–Naivasha road.
From Naivasha to Nakuru City, the highway will be widened to six lanes to cater to growing traffic volume.
The Rironi–Nakuru–Eldoret highway upgrade is one of the priority projects of the Kenya Kwanza administration, aimed at decongesting the Northern Corridor, improving road safety, and supporting regional economic integration.
