The government is facing mounting questions over its commitment to open the upgraded Rironi-Naivasha highway to motorists by October 30, 2026, after construction timelines and progress updates raised doubts about whether Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir's promise will be met.
Chirchir announced on September 10 that the Rironi-Naivasha section of the Rironi-Mau Summit highway would be fully dualled and opened to traffic by October 30, allowing motorists to use the upgraded road as construction continues on the wider corridor.
However, the contractor's earlier December 2026 target for completing tarmacking on the section has raised questions about the government's October deadline. The difference between opening completed portions to traffic and finishing construction across the entire stretch has also become a key issue.
The concerns follow an August 30 update, in which Eric Yu, the project manager for the Rironi-Naivasha-Gilgil section, said construction had reached 80 per cent, with tarmacking expected to be completed by December.
The update also quoted Charles Omolo, KeNHA's Director of Public-Private Partnerships, saying construction works across the wider Rironi-Mau Summit corridor stood at 20 per cent.
Although progress was visible when Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Director General Luka Kimeli inspected the project on October 7, workers were still laying the first layers of tarmac near the Ngarariga Interchange, highlighting the work remaining ahead of the promised opening.
Further scrutiny emerged on October 23 when KeNHA, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) advertised a tender seeking an independent firm to inspect construction works and verify project costs. The exercise covers the 81-kilometre Rironi-Gilgil section and the 58-kilometre Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha route.
A Treasury update cited in the tender report indicated that early works on the Rironi-Naivasha section stood at 34.96 per cent as of September 30, while the Gilgil-Mau Summit section was at 10.38 per cent.
President William Ruto launched the highway project on November 28, 2025, at Kamandura in Kiambu County. The 233-kilometre infrastructure programme covers the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway and the Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha route, with the first phase being undertaken by CRBC in partnership with NSSF.
The wider project is expected to cost approximately KSh200 billion and is being implemented through a public-private partnership arrangement. The government has set June 2027 as the target for completing the entire corridor.
The expansion is intended to ease congestion along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway, improve road safety and facilitate the movement of passengers and commercial goods between Nairobi, the Rift Valley and western Kenya.
For motorists who have endured traffic disruptions during construction, the immediate concern remains whether the promised October 30 opening will proceed and which sections will be ready for use.
With the contractor previously indicating that tarmacking would extend into December, the government faces pressure to clarify the actual status of the works, explain any changes to the opening schedule and provide a firm timeline for delivering the upgraded road.
