PHOTOS: Rironi-Naivasha Road Takes Shape as Tarmac Laying Starts

Construction on the long-awaited A8 corridor reached a critical milestone this week as contractors began laying the initial layers of tarmac along the Rironi-Naivasha section of the Rironi-Mau Summit highway.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Director General Luka Kimeli inspected the ongoing progress on Tuesday, witnessing workers apply the blacktop on the approach road to the Ngarariga Interchange. The visual progress signals that heavy earthworks on the stretch have given way to advanced road paving.

The paving effort aligns with government targets to open specific completed sections to motorists ahead of schedule.

Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir confirmed last month that the state intends to complete and open the dualled Rironi-Naivasha section by October 30, allowing traffic to utilize the upgraded lanes while work continues on adjacent segments.

“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 stated during a recent project update.

Chirchir explained that the Ministry of Roads plans to sequence the opening by first allowing traffic onto the upper side of the A8 corridor before shifting focus to the A8 South section, which connects 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,” Chirchir noted.

The broader Rironi-Mau Summit highway project aims to transform one of East Africa’s most vital transport arteries. For years, motorists, freight haulers, and commuters along the Nairobi-Nakuru route have faced severe gridlock, particularly around Naivasha, Gilgil, and the Rift Valley escarpment.

To mitigate these delays as quickly as possible, authorities have structured the mega-infrastructure development using a phased opening model. Under this approach, usable stretches are integrated into the transport network progressively rather than holding back access until the entire project concludes.

The full scope of the upgrade includes dualling the A8 and A8 South corridors, significantly expanding capacity to accommodate commercial transit between Nairobi, the Rift Valley, and western Kenya.

While the Rironi-Naivasha segment remains on track for its partial October opening, the Ministry targets full completion of the entire Rironi-Mau Summit corridor by June 2027.

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