Hour-long gridlocks on Rironi–Mau Summit Road to end as construction begins

Residents and traders in Limuru and surrounding areas are welcoming the launch of the Rironi–Mau Summit Road, a transformative infrastructure project aimed at eliminating hours-long traffic gridlocks along one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors.

Lawrence Domba, a longtime resident of Limuru, recalled the severe congestion and frequent accidents that have long plagued the route. 

“There has been severe congestion, vehicles get stuck for hours, people end up sleeping on the road, and there have been accidents occurring,” he said.

“Once this road is opened, it will be a very big help, especially for us residents of Limuru. It will open up our town and also help greatly in business as well as tourism.”

The 170-kilometre highway, linking Nairobi to the Rift Valley and western Kenya, was officially launched by President William Ruto at Kamandura on November 28, 2025.

Speaking at the launch, Ruto emphasised the urgency and scale of the project.

“If we waited for the national budget, we would have waited a lifetime. If we borrowed, we would have added to our debts. If we taxed more, we would have suffocated families,” he said. 

“This road is more than a highway; it is a gateway to prosperity, unity, and transformation.”

The project, being implemented through a public–private partnership involving the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), is designed to ease chronic congestion, reduce accidents, and shorten travel times.

 

Once completed, the highway will feature a four-lane dual carriageway from Rironi to Naivasha and a six-lane section between Naivasha and Nakuru, with grade-separated interchanges, overpasses, and underpasses.

Under the President’s directive, two contractors will work simultaneously from Rironi and Gilgil to fast-track completion, with Phase One scheduled to be open in six months and the full project set for completion by Madaraka Day 2027.

The road is expected to unlock economic opportunities by connecting farmers and traders to major markets, improving access to schools, health centres, and emergency services, and enhancing regional integration. 

“This is the road that brings traders who come to Nairobi to collect goods and take them back to the rural areas,” said Samuel Kigamba, a resident of Ngarariga, Limuru.

For commuters in Kiambu and beyond, the Rironi–Mau Summit Road promises to turn long, stressful hours on the road into a smooth, safe, and efficient journey, signalling a new era of mobility, commerce, and growth in Kenya’s South-Western corridor.