EXPLAINER: Jobs and business opportunities from Rironi–Mau Summit Road

President William Ruto has launched the Rironi–Mau Summit Road, one of Kenya’s largest infrastructure projects.

The A8 section, spanning approximately 175 kilometres, will undergo major reconstruction and expansion.

During the launch of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project in Kiambu County on Friday, November 28, 2025, Ruto said the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit and Nairobi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha highway projects aim to improve the movement of goods and services along the corridor.

He added that the project is expected to generate thousands of jobs. "This project will create thousands of jobs, with 15,000 young Kenyans gaining skills as they help build this highway," Ruto said.

The project is being financed through a PPP model, which the government says will reduce the need for public borrowing or increased taxation.

In addition to the 15,000 jobs projected during construction, the road is expected to generate indirect economic benefits along the corridor, which includes major towns such as Nakuru, the country’s fourth-largest city, and Naivasha.

A 2012 IBM study indicated that Kenya loses Sh50 million daily due to time lost in traffic, with the slow movement of goods affecting businesses along key transport routes.

Traffic congestion along this corridor has often led commuters to spend hours, and in some cases overnight, reaching their destinations. KeNHA has periodically advised motorists to use alternative routes to avoid severe snarl-ups.

The Rironi–Mau Summit upgrade is intended to address these challenges by increasing the efficiency of transport. For transport operators, tourism, and hospitality businesses, this is expected to reduce travel time and facilitate smoother movement of goods.

A KeNHA report states: “There would be significant savings in travel time to users, mainly on account of increased speed, timely delivery of commodities under transportation, reduced waiting time for freight and passenger movement, and higher utilisation of vehicles and crews. Improved road conditions would bring considerable time savings while travelling.”

Reduced travel time is projected to benefit businesses along the corridor, including small traders and informal vendors who rely on traffic for sales. The highway is also expected to provide income opportunities for residents supplying manpower and services directly or indirectly linked to the project.

The report notes that road construction and maintenance activities will provide employment opportunities to skilled and unskilled workers, including women, primarily from local communities.

“The income of the local workforce would also have a multiplier effect on other sectors of the economy,” the report adds.

The tourism sector is also expected to benefit. As part of the national road network serving major towns, the upgraded road would provide more reliable transport for domestic and international visitors.

According to KeNHA, this could support the establishment of additional hotels, resorts, and other tourist facilities, potentially creating jobs for tour operators, hotel staff, drivers, guides, and other service providers.

Construction is also likely to stimulate industries producing steel, cement, and other building materials. Improved infrastructure could attract investors, leading factories to expand production or set up new plants, creating additional employment. The Nairobi Expressway offers a precedent, where similar infrastructure upgrades supported industrial expansion, according to the Special Economic Zones Authority.

The Naivasha Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and inland depot are also expected to attract investors due to improved connectivity. In 2024, Trade Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano projected that the SEZ could generate over 100,000 jobs. “When fully operationalised, it will create 100,000 jobs for Kenyans. It is expected to improve exports and reduce imports,” she said.

Real estate along the corridor is also expected to benefit. Knight Frank, an independent real estate consultancy, notes that the project will enhance connectivity between Nairobi and Nakuru, driving growth in satellite towns. The Nairobi Expressway is cited as an example of how improved accessibility can sustain property demand and increase valuations.

For Naivasha, which hosts events such as the WRC Safari Rally, improved road infrastructure could attract more businesses and investors. Hospitality, retail, and service sectors along the corridor are likely to grow, creating new income sources for local residents.

The road expansion is expected to facilitate smoother logistics for exports, tourism, and manufacturing, providing indirect revenue opportunities for sectors linked to these activities.

In conclusion, the Rironi–Mau Summit Road is expected to generate 15,000 direct jobs during construction and wider economic benefits in tourism, trade, real estate, and industrial production. The PPP model reduces the public funding burden, allowing Kenyans to benefit from the infrastructure sooner.

From roadside traders to hotel owners, transport operators, factory workers, and property developers, the highway offers multiple pathways for income. The challenge will be ensuring that opportunities remain accessible and inclusive, allowing as many Kenyans as possible to benefit from the economic effects of the project.