The National Treasury has approved a Sh180 billion partnership between the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Kenya’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to construct the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit and Maai Mahiu toll road.
The 233-kilometre project, which spans Kiambu, Nyandarua, and Nakuru counties, will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The concession grants the CRBC-NSSF consortium a 30-year operation period, during which they will collect toll revenues tax-free.
The decision was endorsed by the Public Private Partnership Committee on October 9 after confirming that the project met key thresholds of public interest, feasibility, and affordability, as required under the PPP Act, 2021.
The road, which forms part of Kenya’s vital A8 transport corridor, will cover 175 kilometres between Rironi and Mau Summit and an additional 58 kilometres along the A8 South section connecting Rironi, Maai Mahiu, and Naivasha.
Once completed, the toll road is expected to significantly reduce travel time, enhance road safety, and boost economic connectivity between Nairobi and western Kenya. It will also facilitate smoother freight movement to the Great Lakes region.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) received two privately initiated proposals for the project — one from Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International Engineering Co Ltd (SDRBI) and another from the CRBC-NSSF consortium. After review, Treasury approved the latter, citing its stronger financial structure and track record in large-scale infrastructure.
Since 1984, China’s CRBC has implemented major infrastructure projects in Kenya, including two ports, two railways (notably the Standard Gauge Railway), and 23 road projects spanning over 1,900 kilometres.
The Mau Summit toll road marks another milestone in Kenya’s quest to modernize its highway infrastructure through strategic partnerships aimed at easing public expenditure while ensuring long-term development.
