Determined to ease congestion on its vital transport routes and boost its economy, Kenya has officially launched work on two major road construction projects. Valued at nearly $1.54 billion (about 170 billion Kenyan shillings), this initiative is part of a broader modernization effort targeting one of the country’s most strategic road corridors.
A Major Ambition for Western Kenya
This colossal program spans more than 230 kilometers and primarily aims to upgrade the Nairobi–Mau Summit highway as well as the Nairobi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha road. These routes, currently undersized in the face of growing traffic, will undergo widening, renovation, or complete reconstruction. The project includes the addition of extra lanes, the construction of interchanges, and modern infrastructure designed to ensure maximum traffic flow.
The government’s objective is twofold. Logistically, it seeks to reduce chronic traffic jams, thereby facilitating travel toward the western part of the country. Economically, President William Ruto has clearly framed the project as a powerful lever for regional connectivity and trade stimulation, asserting that it will lead to the creation of 15,000 local jobs.
The Strategic Choice of a Public-Private Partnership
Rather than relying on traditional financing through borrowing or the national budget, Nairobi has chosen a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to structure this investment. The companies in charge of the construction—Chinese firms—will, in return, receive a concession of roughly three decades on the modernized road sections.
This decision has been strongly defended by President Ruto. He justified the use of the PPP model as a necessity given the urgency of the economic situation: “If we had waited for the national budget, we would have waited a lifetime. If we had borrowed, we would have worsened our debt. If we had taxed more, we would have put pressure on families. And if we had done nothing, we would have surrendered to stagnation.”
