Chinese firm, NSSF inch closer to Mau Summit road contract
Business
By
Macharia Kamau
| Oct 24, 2025
Vehicles at Mau Summit area on the Nakuru– Eldoret Highway. [File, Standard]
China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is inching closer to clinching the deal to construct and operate the Rironi-Mau Summit toll road after the only other firm that had bid to redevelop the highway through the public private partnership (PPP) model was knocked out in the latest evaluation by the government.
Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) said the proposal by CRBC, which is in a consortium with National Social Security Fund (NSSF), had been approved but would need to meet other conditions before eventually getting the deal.
If it does get the contract, CRBC will increase its influence on the northern transport corridor, a key artery for logistics in Kenya and the region, where it built and manages the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway, but has also built numerous other projects including the Nairobi Bypass roads.
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CRBC and NSSF had presented a privately initiated proposal (PIP) to dual the 175-kilometre road as well as rehabilitate the 58-kilometre Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha road under the PPP model.
On completion, the contractor will charge motorists to use the road to recoup its investments and also fund the maintenance of the road over a three decade period.
Other bidders
Shandong Hi Speed Road and Bridge International Engineering Co was the other contender and had also presented a PIP to Kenha. The two proposals have been under evaluation.
A third proposal was presented to Kenha in July this year by Multiplex Partners, which the authority also said had been under review.
In a new update yesterday, Kenha said the proposal by the CRBC and NSSF consortium had on October 9 been approved to proceed to the next stage, leaving out the other two proposals.
“Following discussions with the PPP Directorate and the PPP Committee, Kenha approved the recommendation of the evaluation report, which recommended CRBC and NSSF consortium, as the preferred project proponent, subject to its fulfilment of the technical, financial, environment and social and legal conditions outlined in the evaluation report,” Kenha said in a public notice.
It said the PPP Committee delivered its decision during its 47th extraordinary meeting held on October 9, 2025, during which it also determined that “the project meets the public interest, public private partnership suitability, project feasibility and affordability criteria and granted approval for the project to be procured under the PPP Act”.
The road is projected to cost Sh200 billion.
The upgrade of the road had earlier been awarded to a consortium of French firms – the Rift Valley Highway (a consortium of Vinci Highways SAS, Vinci Concessions SAS, and Meridiam Infrastructure Africa Fund).
This was, however, cancelled on concerns of high toll fees and unfavourable terms including the requirement that the government cover financial shortfalls.
Kenya paid the French firms Sh6 billion for cancellation of the deal.
Clinching the deal would further entrench CRBC on the northern transport corridor, which is key for Kenya as well as its neighbours that use the road for import and export of different goods but also the movement of people.
The firm’s heavy presence is seen in the Standard Gauge Railway, which is operated by its subsidiary, Africa Star Railway Operations Company (Afristar).
The Kenya Railways Corporation’s takeover of the railway’s operations has been postponed multiple times, leaving control of the railway firmly in Chinese hands.
CRBC also built the Nairobi Expressway, the 27.5 kilometre tolled road that cuts through the capital and operated by its affiliate Moja Expressway.
The project, delivered through the PPP model, will be operated by the company for about three decades, during which it will continue charging users to meet operational and maintenance costs as well as recoup its investments in the road.
Recent reports show the road, which is seen as a major success in implementing PPP models, has been making losses despite huge traffic.