Nyoro Questions Sh175 Billion Price Tag for Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro speaks during a press conference on August 12, 2025. /SCREENGRAB

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has questioned the government’s plan to dual the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit highway at a cost of over Sh175 billion, warning that the project’s financing model could burden motorists and raise the cost of doing business.

Speaking on Tuesday, Nyoro said Kenyans, particularly those from western Kenya who rely on the route, deserve the upgrade, but not under a model that he claims will result in high toll charges.

“This road will cost Kenyans over Sh175 billion. That means per kilometre of road is about a billion shillings. Why can’t the government look at other avenues of raising money?” Nyoro posed.

The legislator criticised the proposed public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement for the 170-kilometre project, arguing that it is misleading to frame it as a private-sector investment.

“In whatever we are calling PPPs, they are not really private. They are mostly entirely public. The main investor in this case is the National Social Security Fund. We are just running away from responsibility and liability by packaging it as a PPP,” he said.

Nyoro warned that tolling the highway which connects Nairobi to Nakuru and onward to the Mau Summit would see motorists pay twice: once through the existing road maintenance levy in fuel and again through toll fees.

“When we institute tolling like we want to do on the Rironi–Mau Summit road, we are basically increasing the cost of doing business. Motorists will pay for fuel, pay the levy, and again pay an extra cost to use the road,” he said.

The MP suggested alternative financing options, including selling part of the government’s stake in Safaricom.

“The government of Kenya owns 35 per cent of Safaricom. They can easily sell 10 per cent and get Sh100 billion to build and expand the road, even all the way, without making it a tolled road,” Nyoro said, adding that direct investment would lower transport costs and strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional trade hub.

According to Nyoro, high transport charges could drive neighbouring countries to seek alternative ports and routes for their imports, which he warned would hurt the economy.

“What you are basically advising our neighbouring countries to do is look for alternatives. I don’t think this is good for our economy,” he said.