Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has announced an ambitious construction target for the Rironi-Naivasha highway, with contractors expected to complete at least one kilometre of road every day as the government intensifies efforts to accelerate the long-delayed project.
The 60-kilometre Rironi-Naivasha section forms part of the KSh200 billion Rironi-Mau Summit highway project, which is being implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP). China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is responsible for constructing this particular section.
Chirchir explained that the government had introduced a new construction strategy aimed at speeding up progress by ensuring that contractors complete the road base before applying the final asphalt layer. The approach is expected to simplify the remaining work, allowing construction teams to concentrate on asphalt laying and other finishing activities.
Previously, contractors had been completing approximately four kilometres of road per week, despite having more than 90 construction teams deployed along the route.
The government has also addressed earlier challenges involving bitumen supplies, which had contributed to delays in the construction programme. Additionally, 10 asphalt-laying machines have arrived in Mombasa to strengthen the project’s capacity and support the accelerated construction schedule.
The latest announcement comes after the government failed to meet the October 30 completion deadline communicated in September, raising concerns among motorists and other road users who have been waiting for the improved transport corridor.
Authorities are now targeting early December 2026 to open the Rironi-Naivasha section to motorists, although some minor road furniture and finishing works could remain incomplete when traffic begins using the highway.
The wider Rironi-Mau Summit highway project is expected to be completed by June 2027. Once operational, the highway will operate under a tolling system, meaning motorists will be required to pay charges to use the upgraded road.
The project is expected to improve connectivity, reduce travel time and ease congestion along one of Kenya’s important transport corridors.