All construction machines left Rironi-Mau Summit project site after Ruto’s launch, says DCP official
By Mabonga Makhanu, December 7, 2025Democracy for Citizens (DCP) Organising Secretary Peter Mbae has stated that all construction machinery that was present on the Mau Summit–Rironi Road left the area after President William Ruto’s launch.
While speaking in Nakuru to a local TV station in a video aired on Sunday, December 7, 2025, he said that President William Ruto’s launch of the Mau Summit–Rironi Road was more about political optics and public relations and not a genuine launch.
He went ahead to state that the machinery that was present on the road during the launch was harmonised from local contractors and did not belong to the Chinese contractors, as stated by the President.
“Zile truck zilikuwa siku ile si za Chinese, ni za ma contractors waliambiwa walete ma tipper haraka haraka, ionekane tuna launch; it was just political,” he said.
The Mau Summit–Rironi Road, which was launched on Friday, November 28, 2025, according to Mbae, was done politically and coincidentally, and that date was put in place for political purposes.
According to him, it was so that it would come a day after the by-elections so that the President could chest-thump on the seats garnered by his party and the entire broad-based government.
“It was more political than technical; during the launch, they didn’t even talk about the road. It was meant to celebrate the byelection victory; it had nothing to do with the road,” he added.
According to Mbae, no contract has been signed for the construction of the highway.
“Hakuna contract yenye imesigniwa yah ii Barabara”
These come days after the Mau Summit-Rironi Road was launched by President William Ruto and set to run from Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret and proceed to Malaba.
This 175 km project, part of Kenya’s Northern Corridor, is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), costing approximately Ksh170–200 billion (USD 863 million).
It includes a 139 km Phase I from Nairobi to Gilgil and Naivasha, with construction set to be complete by June 1, 2027, ahead of Madaraka Day celebrations.
The construction
The upgrade will transform the road into a four- to six-lane dual carriageway, reducing travel time between Nairobi and Eldoret by nearly half, easing congestion, boosting trade, tourism, and agriculture, and potentially adding 1% to GDP growth.
“If we waited for the national budget, we’d have waited a lifetime. If we borrowed, we would have added to our debt burden. If we taxed more, we would have suffocated families, and if we did nothing, we’d have surrendered to stagnation,” he said.
“I have told them that by the time we celebrate Madaraka Day on June 1, 2027, the Rironi–Mau Summit should be complete.”