The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced the approval of the much-anticipated Nairobi-Nakuru Highway project by the National Treasury. The green light follows the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Committee’s determination that the project meets all the required technical, financial, environmental, and legal standards.
In a notice dated Thursday, October 23, KeNHA confirmed that the feasibility report submitted on September 15 by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) satisfied all conditions. The proposal was evaluated based on public interest, PPP suitability, feasibility, and affordability criteria.
“The PPP Committee delivered the decision during its 47th Extraordinary PPP Committee meeting held on October 9 and determined that the project meets the public interest, project feasibility, and affordability criteria,” KeNHA stated.
Following the approval, CRBC, NSSF, and Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International are set to commence construction of the 175-kilometre, four-lane highway that will link Nairobi and Nakuru cities.
Valued at approximately Ksh200 billion, the project will begin at Rironi in Kiambu County, pass through Nyandarua, and terminate at Mau Summit in Nakuru County. It forms part of the larger A8 corridor connecting Nairobi to Western Kenya and is a crucial segment of the Northern Corridor serving Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
KeNHA’s announcement follows a series of public engagement forums held in August by the Ministry of Transport to gather citizens’ views and ensure transparency.
Construction of the modern highway is expected to take two years. Once completed, it is projected to significantly reduce travel time between Nairobi and Nakuru to just one and a half hours while easing the heavy traffic that has long plagued the route.
