Rironi–Naivasha highway: new December opening date, the KSh8-per-km toll, and what comes next
The four-lane stretch from Rironi to Naivasha missed its October deadline. Transport CS Davis Chirchir now says it will open in early December. Here is what is being built, what the tolls will be, and the wider KSh200 billion plan to Mau Summit.
If you travel from Nairobi towards Naivasha and Nakuru, the busy road past Limuru is being rebuilt. On 30 October 2026, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir told Parliament's Transport Committee that the first section, Rironi to Naivasha, will open in early December 2026. He had earlier promised 30 October.
The project at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full project | Rironi–Mau Summit highway, a public-private partnership (PPP) |
| Cost | About KSh200 billion |
| Phase 1 | Rironi to Naivasha, about 60km, widened from two lanes to four |
| Phase 2 | Naivasha to Mau Summit, widened to six lanes |
| Builders | China Road and Bridge Corporation (Rironi–Naivasha); Shandong Hi-Speed expected on Gilgil–Mau Summit |
| Progress | More than 90 work teams, about 4km a week |
| New opening date | Early December 2026 for Rironi–Naivasha |
| Wider road | Targeted for June 2027 |
Why it was late
A shortage of bitumen, the black, sticky material that binds the stones in a tarmac road, slowed work. The government says it now has enough. Design work for the Naivasha Junction interchange, with an overpass and underpass, is still pending.
What it will cost to use
Because it is a PPP, the private investor recovers its money through tolls once the road is complete:
- KSh8 per km between Rironi and Naivasha. For the full 60km, that is roughly KSh480 one way, by our calculation.
- KSh8.50 per km between Naivasha and Mau Summit.
Why it matters
- Safety: the old two-lane road has a long record of deadly crashes. Separate lanes in each direction reduce head-on collisions.
- Time and trade: it is part of the Northern Corridor linking Mombasa, Nairobi, Uganda and beyond, so faster trips mean cheaper freight.
- December travel: if the date holds, holiday travellers will be among the first to use it.
Related: the Nairobi–Thika expressway plan and Mombasa Road works.
