Two Chinese firms cleared to develop Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway plans
The proposals, which were privately initiated, will now proceed to the development phase, paving the way for contract discussions with government agencies.
The stalled Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway has received a new lease of life after the Public-Private Partnership Directorate approved two Chinese companies to move forward with feasibility studies and procurement steps in preparation for the project’s development.
The approval, granted on July 2, applies to proposals submitted in May by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and a consortium made up of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge Group.
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The proposals, which were privately initiated, will now proceed to the development phase, paving the way for contract discussions with government agencies.
“PIPs were submitted by two proponents, namely China Road and Bridge Corporation Kenya (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Consortium and Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International Engineering Ltd (SDRB),” the PPP Directorate said in its latest project disclosures. “On July 2, 2025, the two PIPs were approved to progress to the project development phase.”
This stage includes carrying out detailed feasibility and project development studies, and is part of a broader public-private partnership cycle which involves seven steps: proposal, preparation, procurement, contracting, implementation, delivery, and eventual transfer.
The road project comprises two major sections. The A8 segment runs from the Rironi Interchange to the Mau Summit turnoff, covering a distance of 174.9 kilometres. The A8 South stretches 56.38 kilometres from Rironi to Naivasha via Mai Mahiu.
The two Chinese entities are competing for the lucrative highway deal after the government scrapped an earlier Sh197.1 billion agreement with a French consortium consisting of Vinci Highways SAS, Vinci Concessions SAS, and Meridian Infrastructure Africa Fund.
The cancellation came with a Sh6.2 billion payout after the French group threatened to take the matter to the London Court of Arbitration.
The current interest by Chinese firms followed President William Ruto’s move to present the project proposal to Chinese stakeholders.
Their submissions were received by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) through the formal PIP process.
Following the feasibility studies, the government is expected to begin contract negotiations with the qualified firm, with an aim of reviving one of the country’s most vital infrastructure corridors.
The Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway plays a central role in regional logistics, forming part of both the Northern Corridor and the Trans-African Highway network. It links the Port of Mombasa to landlocked countries in East and Central Africa and carries large volumes of commercial freight.
According to the PPP Directorate, “The highway plays a key role in supporting the movement of goods and services across the region, accommodating a substantial volume of heavy commercial traffic that is essential for regional trade and economic development.”
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