Dualed Rironi-Naivasha Highway Stretch to Open by August - CS Chirchir

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has confirmed that motorists will soon see partial relief on the heavily congested Nairobi-Nakuru route. During a Senate appearance on Wednesday, February 11, Chirchir stated that the Rironi to Naivasha portion of the ongoing highway upgrade will be opened to public traffic by the end of August this year.

The announcement focuses on a key segment of the larger Rironi-Mau Summit project, which spans approximately 170 kilometres from the outskirts of Nairobi through Naivasha, Gilgil, and onward to Mau Summit. Chirchir told senators the Rironi-Naivasha stretch is now at a stage where it can be handed over for use well before the entire corridor reaches completion.

Full project handover remains scheduled for June 2027. To keep momentum, the ministry intends to mobilise 12 construction gangs on the China Road and Bridge Corporation contract from Rironi to Gilgil starting next month, with a matching number assigned from Gilgil to Mau Summit.

Recent site visits by Chirchir showed active progress on about 25 kilometres, particularly around the Rironi interchange and initial Gilgil sections. The upgrade includes widening to four lanes in several areas, improved alignments, and better drainage to handle the corridor's high volume of trucks, tourist buses, and commuter vehicles.

The section beyond Naivasha toward Nakuru follows a slightly different design profile suited to the terrain, with provisions for eventual tolling once the full highway is operational. Chirchir noted that parallel untolled routes would continue to exist for drivers who prefer them.

Congestion has been a longstanding complaint on this stretch of the A104, especially at Mai Mahiu and the climbs toward Naivasha where opposing traffic and heavy loads frequently cause delays and accidents. Opening Rironi to Naivasha first will shorten journey times for trips to Naivasha town, Lake Naivasha attractions, and onward to Nakuru and western Kenya.

The phased approach allows contractors to concentrate remaining works—bridges, interchanges, and final surfacing—on the western sections while the eastern end begins carrying regular traffic. Ministry officials have stressed close supervision of the contractor to hold the June 2027 deadline.

Chirchir's timeline update came in response to questions about delivery pace on one of Kenya's most critical inter-regional links. The corridor carries significant freight to and from the Rift Valley, as well as passenger movement between Nairobi and upcountry destinations.

Motorists have followed the project closely for years, with periodic stops and starts drawing public attention. The August opening, if met, would represent the first major usable improvement on the route in recent memory.