Get breaking business news on WhatsApp
The Rironi-Naivasha road section of the Nairobi-Mau Summit highway is expected to open to motorists in early December 2026, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said on Friday, October 30, during an inspection of the project by the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure in Naivasha, Capital FM reported on October 31.
How far the Rironi-Naivasha road has progressed
According to the CS, more than 90 work teams are on the project and construction is moving at about four kilometres a week. He said the government has secured enough bitumen to keep works going despite reported shortages of the material in the country.
Some work will continue after the opening. At the Naivasha junction, the government plans an interchange with an overpass and an underpass. After Rironi-Naivasha, the contractor is expected to move to the Gilgil and Mai Mahiu sections, which are also due to be expanded into dual carriageways.
What we know, and what is still unclear
| Item | Status (as of Oct 31, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Section | Rironi to Naivasha, part of Nairobi-Mau Summit highway |
| Expected opening | Early December 2026 (CS Chirchir) |
| Pace of works | About 4km per week, 90+ teams |
| Outstanding works | Naivasha junction interchange (overpass and underpass) |
| Next sections | Gilgil and Mai Mahiu dual carriageways |
| Toll rates | Not yet published; KeNHA says a regulated tariff framework will apply |
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has said toll fees will be set under a regulated tariff framework meant to keep them affordable while letting the private partner recover its investment and maintenance costs over the concession period. No toll rates had been announced at the time of writing, so motorists should treat any figures circulating online with caution until KeNHA publishes them.
Why the Rironi-Naivasha road matters for business
The Nairobi-Nakuru corridor is the main route linking Nairobi and the port of Mombasa to western Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern DRC. Heavy trucks share a single carriageway with buses, matatus and private cars on long stretches, which slows transit and contributes to crashes. A dual carriageway should cut travel times for transporters, fresh produce traders and travellers heading to Naivasha’s hotels and conference venues.
The project is being delivered as a public-private partnership (PPP), which carries risk for taxpayers as well as investors. The Treasury has put the maximum PPP termination exposure tied to Rironi-Mau Summit at KSh180.7 billion; read our report on Treasury’s PPP termination exposure. A similar model is planned for the city end of the road; see the plan to toll the James Gichuru-Rironi road. For a sense of how tolls work in Kenya today, see our Nairobi Expressway toll charges table.
Contractors and financing
Committee chairman George Kariuki said MPs were satisfied with the progress and urged leaders to support infrastructure projects rather than politicise them. He cited the government’s road financing securitisation programme, which he said had raised more than KSh200 billion for infrastructure. Chirchir said the government is reviewing contractors’ performance records and doing due diligence to keep firms with a history of abandoning projects from winning public contracts.
What motorists and transporters should do now
- Expect diversions and slow sections between Rironi and Naivasha until the opening, and around the Naivasha junction after it.
- Watch for KeNHA’s official toll notice before budgeting route costs; the tariff framework has not been published.
- Fleet owners should review delivery schedules once the dual carriageway opens, as shorter transit times could change daily trip counts.
For KeNHA contacts by region, see our list of KeNHA regional offices.
FAQ
When will the Rironi-Naivasha road open?
Transport CS Davis Chirchir said the section is expected to open to motorists in early December 2026.
Will the Rironi-Naivasha road be tolled?
Yes. KeNHA says tolls will be set under a regulated tariff framework, but rates had not been published as of October 31, 2026.
Which sections come next?
The contractor is expected to move to the Gilgil and Mai Mahiu sections, both planned as dual carriageways.
Updated October 31, 2026.
Related: KPA plans Moyale dry port and Lake Turkana ferry to open up LAPSSET trade with Ethiopia
Prefer WhatsApp? Follow Business Radar on WhatsApp
Weekly, free. We only use your email for this newsletter and you can unsubscribe in one click. Privacy policy.
