China Firm Picked to Lead Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit and Rironi–Naivasha Road Project

The government has selected a China-based consortium to develop the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit (A8) Highway and the Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha (A8 South) Road through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Director General Luka Kimeli said the Public-Private Partnership Committee under the National Treasury had agreed that the consortium made up of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Board of Trustees is the Preferred Proponent. The decision was reached following the evaluation of feasibility studies and proposal submissions.

The Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit project was first launched in 2016 after a feasibility study supported by the World Bank. A previous agreement signed in 2020 with Rift Valley Highway Limited was terminated in May 2025 because the government said the financial model would have required additional borrowing to cover the gap between projected toll income and payments owed to the private contractor. The government also said attempts to have the contractor bear traffic risk did not succeed.

This year, KeNHA received two key privately initiated proposals for the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the roads. These came from Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International Engineering Company Limited, and the consortium led by CRBC and NSSF. A third firm, Multiplex Partners Company Limited, was dismissed after failing to pay the required non-refundable review fee. The two accepted proposals then proceeded to full feasibility studies and public participation exercises held along the project route in August and September 2025.

KeNHA evaluated the feasibility reports and submitted the results to the PPP Directorate, which recommended the CRBC and NSSF consortium as the preferred bidder. However, the PPP Committee has not yet approved the final award. The concurrence only allows KeNHA to begin negotiations with the selected consortium before a final contract is issued.

“Subsequently, the PPP Committee, under the National Treasury, concurred that the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and National Social Security Fund Trustees (NSSF) Consortium is the Preferred Proponent, based on the recommendations of the Evaluation Report,” the statement reads.

The road upgrade covers approximately 175 kilometres from Rironi to Mau Summit and 58 kilometres from Rironi to Naivasha. Once completed, the improved highways are expected to ease transport between Nairobi, Central Kenya, the Rift Valley and Western Kenya by reducing travel time and lowering vehicle operating costs.

KeNHA also noted that alternative untolled routes will be identified for motorists who choose not to use the express sections. However, the authority said that using the toll road could be more cost-effective overall due to reduced congestion, lower fuel consumption, and improved road safety.