NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has disputed the government’s explanation for delays on the Rironi–Mau Summit highway, saying the problem is not a shortage of bitumen but a lack of financing from Chinese partners.
Gachagua said Chinese officials had declined to release money for the project because they considered it risky ahead of next year’s election.
He was responding to Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, who had attributed construction setbacks to disruptions in bitumen supplies.
“I heard the Minister for Roads, Chirchir, claim that works on the road have stalled due to a lack of bitumen, or perhaps because of the conflict between Iran and the United States. The truth is, the Chinese have simply stated that there is no money,” Gachagua said, according to a report on his remarks.
Gachagua said he had been informed by senior Chinese government officials that the financing had been held back because of the project’s political risk ahead of the 2027 General Election. His account has not been independently confirmed.
Gachagua questions NSSF funding
The DCP leader also questioned the role of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in financing the road, alleging that Sh30 billion belonging to pensioners had been committed to the project unlawfully.
“I am saying there is no contract for that road. Money has been taken from NSSF, money belonging to pensioners, against the law. KSh30 billion has been given to two Chinese companies,” he said.
Gachagua warned the directors of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Shandong Speed Engineering Company, as well as NSSF trustees, that they could face legal action over the financing arrangement.
The government’s Public-Private Partnerships Directorate has documented the project as a partnership involving CRBC and NSSF for sections between Rironi, Naivasha and Gilgil, with Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International identified for the Gilgil–Nakuru–Mau Summit section.
Its December 2025 progress report said earlier negotiations with CRBC had failed after the company sought more time to obtain Chinese government approvals for financing exceeding US$1 billion.
The project was subsequently split into two sections, and construction was reported to be ongoing after its launch in November 2025.
Chirchir cites bitumen supply disruptions
Chirchir said bitumen availability had been a challenge over the previous two months because of geopolitical developments and supply-chain disruptions.
During an inspection of the works, he said the setbacks had affected construction progress but that the government was working to accelerate the project.
He also said the Rironi–Naivasha section was expected to open to motorists before the festive season.
The Rironi–Mau Summit highway is a major transport corridor connecting Nairobi to the Rift Valley and western Kenya, as well as regional trade routes towards Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The ongoing works have caused disruption for motorists, while the government says the expansion is intended to ease congestion and improve travel along the route.
