Workers lay tarmac on Rironi-Naivasha Road as deadline nears

Workers lay tarmac on a section of the Rironi-Naivasha highway on October 7, 2026/KENHA

The first layers of tarmac are being laid on the Rironi-Naivasha section of the Rironi-Mau Summit highway, marking a major milestone in the construction of the long-awaited A8 corridor.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Director General Luka Kimeli witnessed Tuesday the laying of tarmac on the approach road to the Ngarariga Interchange during an inspection of ongoing works between Rironi and Naivasha.

The development comes as the government races to meet its target for opening some sections of the upgraded Rironi-Naivasha section to motorists later this month.

Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said last month that the section would be completed and opened to traffic by October 30, allowing motorists to start using the newly upgraded road even as construction continues on other parts of the wider corridor.

“In one and a half months to come, the section of Rironi to Naivasha Road of the Rironi-Mau Summit construction will be complete,” Chirchir said.

He said the government planned to first open the upper side of the A8 corridor to traffic before moving to the A8 South section linking Rironi, Mai Mahiu and Naivasha.

“After this we go to Naivasha side, that is, Rironi-Mau Mai Mahiu-Naivasha. We’ll open the upper side, that is A8, to traffic, then go to A8 South,” he said.

KeNHA Director General Luka Kimeli with other officials and Chinese contractors witness the laying of tarmac on a section of Rironi-Naivasha highway on October 7, 2026/KENHA

During Tuesday’s inspection, Kimeli observed workers laying the blacktop on the approach to the Ngarariga Interchange, a visible sign that the project has moved into an advanced stage of road construction.

The tarmac works are part of the broader upgrade aimed at improving connectivity, road safety and traffic flow along one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors.

The Rironi-Naivasha section is being upgraded as part of the wider Rironi-Mau Summit highway project, which will transform the existing road infrastructure along the Nairobi-Nakuru route.

The corridor has for years been associated with heavy traffic, particularly around Naivasha, Gilgil and the escarpment, with delays affecting passengers and the movement of goods.

The government has adopted a phased approach to the project, allowing completed sections to be opened to motorists before the entire corridor is finished.

Chirchir has said the wider Rironi-Mau Summit corridor is expected to be completed by June 2027.

Laying of tarmac on the Rironi-Naivasha highway/KENHAThe project covers the A8 and A8 South corridors, with the Rironi-Naivasha section being upgraded to a dual carriageway.

The wider works are intended to increase road capacity and improve the movement of people and cargo between Nairobi, the Rift Valley and western Kenya.

For motorists, the laying of tarmac at Ngarariga provides a tangible indication of progress on a project that has been closely watched because of its potential to ease congestion along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

The opening will, however, cover the Rironi-Naivasha section, rather than the entire Rironi-Mau Summit highway.

The government says completing the corridor will improve travel efficiency, enhance road safety and strengthen the movement of goods along the Northern Corridor.