Motorists will pay a toll fee of Sh8 to use the Rironi-Naivasha-Gilgil (A8) and Rironi-Maai Mahiu-Naivasha roads once the planned toll road project is implemented.
Disclosures by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) show the 139-kilometre roads will be developed under a 30-year Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between KeNHA, the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund Board of Trustees (NSSF) consortium.
The project will involve the design, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and eventual transfer of the road facilities to KeNHA after the concession period.
KeNHA said the project originated from a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) submitted by the CRBC-NSSF consortium for the development of approximately 81 kilometres of the A8 Road and 58 kilometres of the A8 South Road from Rironi Interchange to Naivasha through Maai Mahiu.
The road project will traverse Kiambu, Nyandarua and Nakuru counties and will include associated interchanges, bridges, drainage structures, tolling infrastructure, road safety features and other facilities required to provide a safe and efficient highway service.
The PPP Committee approved the Project and Financial Risk Assessment Report and execution of the Project Agreement between KeNHA and the CRBC-NSSF consortium during its 56th Ordinary meeting held on November 25, 2025.
KeNHA said the decision followed a series of processes conducted under the PPP Act, Cap 430, after the consortium’s proposal was approved to proceed to the Project Development Phase.
“The Evaluation Report, prepared in compliance with Section 43, identified CRBC and NSSF consortium as the Preferred Proponent to undertake the project road section, as per Section 55(1) (d) of the PPP Act,” KeNHA said.
The authority added that the PPP Committee adopted the recommendations of the Evaluation Report during its 48th Extraordinary PPP Committee meeting held on November 10, 2025, identifying CRBC-NSSF as the preferred proponent subject to the fulfilment of conditions outlined in the report.
Following the approval, KeNHA commenced negotiations with the consortium before submitting the Project and Financial Risk Assessment Report together with the initialled Project Agreement to the PPP Directorate for recommendations and later to the PPP Committee for approval.
“Following the initial Project Agreement, the Contracting Authority (KeNHA) signed a Preliminary Works Agreement and subsequently executed the Project Agreement with the Project Proponent (CRBC-NSSF Consortium) to enable the commencement of the Works,” KeNHA said.
Under the agreement, the project will be delivered through a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Maintain and Transfer (DBFOMT) PPP model, where the private party will finance and undertake the development and operation of the road before handing over the assets to KeNHA at the end of the concession period.
The authority said the government’s financial commitments under the project will be limited to those provided for in the Project Agreement, with the project mainly financed by the private party.
“The Government’s financial commitments under the Project Agreement are limited to those expressly provided for therein. The Project is primarily financed by the Private Party, with any Government support being subject to the provisions of the Project Agreement and applicable law,” KeNHA said.
The toll charges will be subject to the terms of the agreement, with any future adjustments requiring government approvals and compliance with regulatory requirements.
“The Project will operate as a toll road. Applicable toll tariff is Sh8, and any future adjustments shall be implemented in accordance with the Project Agreement and applicable Government approvals and regulatory requirements,” KeNHA said.
The Authority noted that the project is expected to improve road safety, reduce travel time and vehicle operating costs, improve connectivity between Nairobi and the Rift Valley region, support trade and tourism and create employment opportunities during construction and operation.
The project will run for 30 years, covering the design, construction, operation and maintenance period, after which the assets will be transferred to KeNHA according to the Project Agreement.
KeNHA said it will monitor the project throughout the concession period to ensure compliance with construction timelines, operational performance indicators, maintenance standards, safety obligations, environmental and social requirements and financial reporting obligations.
“The Private Party will be required to submit periodic reports as stipulated in the Project Agreement,” KeNHA said.
The authority added that upon expiry or termination of the concession, the project assets will be handed back in the condition and quality prescribed under the agreement, taking into account performance standards and remaining asset life.
KeNHA said it remains committed to strictly adhering to the provisions of the PPP Act, Cap 430 and further assured the public that it will endeavour to abide by the provisions of the PPP Act, Cap 430.
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