By Mumo Judah, Nairobi, June 2, 2026
Kenya’s ambitious plan to transform the country’s busiest trade corridor into a modern dual carriageway has taken a major step forward after securing a KSh497 million ($3.1 million) preparatory grant from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to support the planning and feasibility stages of the proposed Mau Summit–Eldoret–Malaba highway expansion.
The funding will facilitate comprehensive technical, financial, environmental and engineering studies for the 243-kilometre road corridor, which forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to upgrade the transport network linking Nairobi to the Uganda border.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has already launched the procurement process for consultancy firms to undertake the studies, signalling the beginning of preparations for what is expected to become one of the country’s largest road infrastructure projects.
Once completed, the project will convert the existing two-lane road from Mau Summit through Eldoret to Malaba into a four-lane access-controlled dual carriageway designed to ease congestion, improve road safety and enhance the movement of goods and people along the Northern Corridor. The highway is projected to cost approximately KSh130 billion and will incorporate modern transport infrastructure, including Intelligent Transport Systems, dedicated truck lay-bys, pedestrian crossings and climate-resilient engineering features.
The development comes as the Government seeks long-term solutions to persistent traffic bottlenecks along the Northern Corridor, a strategic route that serves not only Kenya but also neighbouring Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The corridor is estimated to handle more than 35 million tonnes of transit cargo annually, making it one of the most important trade arteries in East and Central Africa.
Officials say the expansion is expected to significantly reduce travel times for motorists and freight operators, lower vehicle operating costs and improve efficiency in the transportation of goods between the Port of Mombasa and regional markets. It is also anticipated to reduce carbon emissions associated with prolonged traffic congestion while addressing the high rate of accidents that have historically been recorded along sections of the single-carriageway road.
Due to fiscal pressures and growing public debt obligations, the Government has opted to implement the project through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Under the arrangement, private investors will finance, construct, operate and maintain the highway over an agreed concession period.
As part of the PPP framework, motorists using the route will be required to pay toll charges once the entire dual carriageway corridor from Rironi to Malaba becomes operational. This means travellers heading from Nairobi to destinations in western Kenya, including Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia and Malaba, are expected to pay user fees for the improved road infrastructure.
The latest grant also marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s engagement with the AIIB, representing the bank’s first standalone infrastructure project in the country since Kenya attained fully paid member status in late 2024. The preparatory financing package is further supported through co-financing from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), underscoring growing international confidence in Kenya’s infrastructure development agenda.
The proposed extension is expected to seamlessly connect with the ongoing Rironi–Mau Summit dual carriageway project, currently being implemented by a consortium comprising China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Together, the two projects will create a continuous high-capacity highway stretching from Nairobi to the Uganda border, dramatically improving regional connectivity and trade competitiveness.
According to the implementation schedule released by KeNHA and the National Treasury, consultancy firms have until June 23, 2026, to submit Expressions of Interest for the feasibility studies. The Government plans to issue Requests for Qualifications to prospective private investors during the third quarter of 2026, followed by the Request for Proposals phase in the first quarter of 2027.
Commercial close is expected in the second quarter of 2027, paving the way for construction works to commence between late 2027 and 2028.
The project is expected to be a game changer for Kenya’s transport sector, strengthening the country’s position as the gateway to East and Central Africa while supporting trade, investment and economic growth across the region. As freight volumes continue to rise and regional integration deepens, the dual carriageway is poised to become a critical piece of infrastructure in the movement of people and goods between the Port of Mombasa and some of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
