NAKURU, Kenya – Construction of the long-awaited Rironi-Mau Summit dual carriageway will officially begin in July, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced on Thursday, following the finalisation of a public-private partnership (PPP) funding deal.
Speaking in Molo, Nakuru County, during a burial service for victims of a recent road accident, the Deputy President said President William Ruto has directed that contractors commence works by July 1.
The 170-kilometre highway upgrade, estimated at Ksh.90 billion, will transform the key transport corridor into a four-lane dual carriageway, expanding to six lanes at high-traffic sections.
The project is expected to be completed by July 2027.
Describing it as a flagship infrastructure initiative under the Kenya Kwanza administration, Prof. Kindiki said the project will significantly reduce traffic fatalities along the route and boost connectivity between Nairobi and western Kenya.
“This transformative project will stimulate the economies of Rift Valley, Nyanza, and Western regions, creating thousands of jobs for local communities—especially here in Nakuru,” he stated.
The Rironi-Mau Summit stretch is part of the busy Northern Corridor, which links Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is among the country’s most heavily used freight and passenger routes.
Prof. Kindiki also directed the Ministry of Roads and Transport to urgently review and redesign dangerous sections of the Elburgon-Njoro Road, where a tragic accident recently claimed 12 lives.
“We must implement lasting engineering solutions to these blackspots to prevent further tragedies,” he said, conveying President Ruto’s condolences to the affected families.
In a broader infrastructure push, the Deputy President confirmed that the government will soon begin construction of phases 2B and 2C of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which will extend the line from Naivasha to the Ugandan border.
“This expansion will solidify Kenya’s position as the region’s logistics and trade hub,” he noted.
Prof. Kindiki closed his remarks with a call for political sobriety, warning against divisive rhetoric and urging leaders to maintain national unity.
“The era of inflammatory politics is behind us. Let us embrace peace, even as we hold different views,” he said.
The Rironi-Mau Summit expressway is expected to not only improve road safety and ease traffic congestion but also serve as a major driver of economic development and regional integration.
