President William Ruto has announced that construction of the 170-kilometre Rironi–Naivasha–Mau Summit dual carriageway will begin on November 28, 2025.
The project covers one of the most heavily used sections of the Northern Corridor linking Nairobi to Western Kenya.
In a statement on X, Ruto said the upgrade is expected to ease persistent congestion, long traffic delays, and frequent road accidents that have affected the route for years.
The corridor is a major transport and trade link for cargo and passenger movement across several counties.
The President added that the government will also break ground on the same day for the dualling of the 58-kilometre Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha road.
The section serves the southern part of the country and connects to key tourism and logistics hubs in the Rift Valley.
Ruto met China Communications Construction Company President Zhang Bingman at State House Nairobi ahead of the announcement.
According to the President, the project will be undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a subsidiary of the Chinese firm.
The head of state said the road expansion forms part of ongoing cooperation between Kenya and China on large infrastructure developments.
He cited earlier projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway, the Nairobi Expressway, and various national highways as examples of this partnership.
Several other joint projects are underway, including Talanta Sports City, construction of 21 stadiums, the Bomas Convention Centre, and the Lamu-Ijara-Garissa road.
Ruto also noted that plans are in progress to extend the railway to Kisumu and Malaba and to construct the Galana Dam in Tana River County.
The Rironi–Mau Summit section is considered one of the busiest transport arteries in the region.
Past studies by government agencies placed it among the top accident-prone corridors due to heavy traffic and limited road capacity.
Transport officials expect the expansion to improve safety and reduce travel time for long-distance trucks and passenger vehicles.
Further details on financing, project timelines, and contractor deployment are expected from the Ministry of Roads and Transport in upcoming briefings.