Prepare to Pay More as Treasury Advances Plan to Introduce Toll Charges on Major Nairobi Highway

Motorists using the busy James Gichuru-Rironi Road could soon pay toll fees under a new government plan that seeks to place the highway under private management after the completion of ongoing Ksh20 billion rehabilitation works.

The proposal, outlined in the National Treasury’s Quarterly PPP Status Update report, could introduce additional travel costs for thousands of motorists using the route between Nairobi and the outskirts of the capital, particularly commuters and transport operators who depend on the highway daily.

The Treasury has already approved the project note, with the decision made in September 2026, opening the way for further steps towards identifying a private partner to complete outstanding civil works and oversee the road’s long-term management.

According to the report, the proposed arrangement will combine road rehabilitation with tolling, allowing a private operator to manage the corridor under a management contract.

“The road is a brownfield project involving the rehabilitation and completion of outstanding civil works, together with the introduction of tolling under a Management Contract,” the Treasury stated.

The government explained that the plan was intended to establish a sustainable system for operating and maintaining the road, which handles significant commuter, passenger and freight traffic.

“The project seeks to establish a sustainable framework for the operation, maintenance and long-term management of the corridor, which carries high volumes of commuter, passenger and freight traffic,” the report added.

The proposal places the spotlight on the potential cost of using one of the key transport routes serving Nairobi’s western outskirts, although the Treasury has not yet announced the toll rates motorists would be required to pay or when the charges could take effect.

The 25-kilometre highway starts at James Gichuru Junction near Westlands and ABC Place, passing through Kangemi, Uthiru, Kinoo and Gitaru before connecting to Rironi and the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

Beyond serving local commuters, the road is an important section of the Northern Corridor, which links the Port of Mombasa to Nairobi and facilitates the movement of goods to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The ongoing expansion was designed to ease congestion by providing a three-lane main carriageway in each direction, alongside service roads and improved drainage infrastructure.

TheClicksMaster feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com