The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has received a third proposal for the planned upgrade of the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, adding to the competition for the multibillion-shilling project.
In a public notice on Tuesday, July 8, KeNHA said Multiplex Partners Company had submitted a plan to expand the 175-kilometre stretch between Rironi and Mau Summit into a four-lane highway.
This brings the number of privately initiated proposals to three, with China Road and Bridge Corporation and Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International already cleared to proceed by the government.
While the proposals from the two Chinese firms were approved on July 22 last year, Multiplex’s proposal is still under review to determine whether it meets the requirements of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act of 2021.
“The additional Privately Initiated Proposal will be subjected to the PPP procurement process, which includes mandatory due diligence on the proponent and evaluation of the proposal,” KeNHA stated.KeNHA, the Public Private Partnerships Directorate under the National Treasury, and the PPP Committee will jointly make the final decision
The update news comes months after the Cabinet gave consent for construction to begin, in a move aimed at unblocking the busy Northern Corridor route.
The Rironi–Mau Summit section links Nairobi to the western region and serves as a key gateway to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, and the DRC.
The groundbreaking of the highway is scheduled in August and will be completed within two years.
Initially, the project was delayed after a Ksh190 billion contract with a French firm was terminated in April over concerns raised by KeNHA.
