Rironi-Mau Summit Road to be completed by June 1, 2027 - Ruto

President William Ruto has ordered contractors working on the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road to complete the project by 2027.

He said the Madaraka Day celebrations in 2027 will be held at Afraha Stadium when the deadline for the construction is set. 

“I have directed the contractors to finish up the work by 2027. I have told them that by the time we celebrate Madaraka Day on June 1, 20277, the Rironi–Mau Summit should be complete," he said. 

He added that two contractors would begin work simultaneously, one from Rironi and the other from Gilgil, to speed up delivery.

Ruto spoke as he launched the long-awaited dualling of the 170-kilometre highway, one of the country’s busiest and most economically important corridors linking Nairobi to the Rift Valley and western region.

The project is to be delivered through a public–private partnership by a consortium including China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

It is expected to ease chronic congestion, reduce frequent accidents and shorten travel time along the key route.

Under the plan, the highway will feature a four-lane dual carriageway from Rironi to Naivasha and a six-lane dual carriageway between Naivasha and Nakuru. 

The President said he rejected an earlier proposal for a smaller two-lane upgrade, terming it inadequate for the region’s rising traffic volumes. 

The dualing is part of a wider infrastructure push by the government aimed at improving transport efficiency and boosting regional connectivity across major economic zones. 

Ruto said the projects represent a shift in how Kenya finances major infrastructure. 

He explained that relying on the national budget, borrowing or slowing development were no longer viable options.

“If we waited for the national budget, we would have waited a lifetime,” he said. 

"If we borrowed, we would have added to our debts. If we taxed more, we would have suffocated families.”

He said the PPP model offers a sustainable alternative.

“This is what happens when government stops trying to do everything alone and starts doing things smarter and in partnership with the private sector,” he said.

The President said the roads, covering 175 kilometres between Nairobi and Mau Summit, and 58 kilometres between Nairobi and Naivasha, will improve safety and efficiency along a corridor that serves Kenya and its regional neighbours.

“For too long, this corridor carried more than it could bear,” he noted.

“Traffic consumed our time, accidents stole our loved ones, and delays cost our economy billions. Today we say: no more.”

Ruto said the upgraded route will support regional trade by improving links to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“This road will unlock faster, safer and more efficient movement of people and goods,” he said.

Officials say the road will reduce freight and travel costs, open new markets for farmers and traders in the Rift Valley and western Kenya, and improve access to value-chains for agricultural producers.

According to government timelines, the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit project is scheduled for full completion by 2027, forming part of an administration plan to dual at least 1,000 kilometres of highways nationwide. 

The President has framed the roads expansion, alongside investments in energy, water, housing and logistics, as central to Kenya’s long-term growth strategy.