Finally: KeNHA Launches Feasibility Studies for KSh130bn Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba Highway Upgrade

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest for consulting services on the Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba road capacity enhancement project. The move marks the start of detailed preparatory work for the 245-kilometre highway upgrade estimated at KSh130 billion.

The project will proceed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. It targets improvements to the A8 corridor, a critical artery linking Kenya's interior to the Ugandan border at Malaba and onward to regional markets.

KeNHA announced the consultancy opportunity on June 2. Selected firms will undertake comprehensive technical, environmental, social, financial and engineering studies needed before construction can begin. The assignment is expected to last about 12 months and require 2,000 to 2,200 professional staff-days.

Scope of work includes traffic surveys and forecasting, engineering investigations and design, environmental and social impact assessments, climate resilience studies, and tolling system planning. Consultants must demonstrate strong experience in major PPP road projects, toll roads, highway design and multilateral bank-financed initiatives.

The authority received financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to support the feasibility phase. This follows earlier government announcements on expanding the corridor into a modern, tolled expressway.

From a construction industry viewpoint, this feasibility stage is crucial for a project of this scale. The existing A8 road handles heavy transit traffic between Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Upgrading it will likely involve widening to dual carriageway standards, improved alignment, better drainage and modern safety features.

Terrain along the route includes sections through the Mau Escarpment and Rift Valley areas, presenting challenges in geotechnical stability, earthworks volumes and environmental sensitivity. Consultants will need to address these in their designs while ensuring climate resilience.

Successful PPP delivery depends on robust feasibility outputs. These studies will inform risk allocation, financial models, toll revenue projections and private sector participation terms. Past Kenyan road PPPs have shown the importance of clear traffic data and environmental compliance to attract credible investors.

The project is expected to cut travel times, lower transport costs and boost trade efficiency. Major towns such as Nakuru, Eldoret and Malaba stand to benefit from improved logistics and economic activity. It also positions Kenya as a stronger regional transport hub.

KeNHA will select the consultant using the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method under AIIB procurement guidelines. Interested firms must submit detailed information on their technical and managerial capabilities, local operational presence and relevant project experience.

Expressions of interest are due by June 23, 2026. Documents are available at KeNHA headquarters in Nairobi.

This development adds to Kenya's ongoing push to modernise key transport corridors. Similar efforts on other major roads have involved significant earthworks, bridge construction and pavement upgrades to handle increased axle loads from regional trade.

For contractors and consultants, the Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba project signals potential opportunities once feasibility concludes. Large linear infrastructure works in this corridor will require substantial aggregates, asphalt and specialised equipment suited to varied topography.

The AIIB funding underscores growing multilateral interest in Kenyan road infrastructure. Such backing often brings stricter standards on procurement transparency, social safeguards and environmental management.

As studies advance, attention will focus on how the final design balances capacity needs with cost and sustainability. The existing road already sees heavy lorry traffic, making timely upgrades important for reducing congestion and accidents.

KeNHA has emphasised the project's role in supporting broader connectivity goals. Once complete, the enhanced highway should facilitate smoother movement of goods across East Africa.

Details on exact alignment changes, number of lanes or specific interchange locations will emerge from the feasibility work. For now, the focus remains on securing experienced consultants to lay the groundwork for what could become one of Kenya's flagship road PPPs.