The Motorist Association of Kenya (MAK) has strongly opposed the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal for the expansion of the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway, terming it deceptive and exploitative to Kenyan motorists and taxpayers.
In a statement to newsrooms, the lobby said the proposed 233-kilometre toll road project would unfairly transfer long-term financial burdens to Kenyans while enriching foreign entities through hidden contracts and commercial clauses.
MAK claimed the toll-based model would shield investors from scrutiny while exposing taxpayers to indirect liabilities through guaranteed revenue assurances, similar to what was witnessed in past infrastructure deals.
“The so-called Build-Operate-Transfer concession ties the government into obligations denominated in foreign currency, with hidden clauses that eventually fall back on taxpayers,” the statement read.
The association further argued that road construction and maintenance are already financed by the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) and fuel taxes, which raise over Ksh 100 billion annually. According to MAK, these funds are sufficient to maintain the country’s highways without imposing additional tolls, which they described as “double taxation.”
They also criticized the inclusion of the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) as the preferred bidder, claiming the firm is a Chinese state-owned entity rather than a private investor. MAK argued this undermines the essence of a true PPP and risks placing Kenya’s key transport corridor under foreign influence.
“This is not genuine investment it’s economic colonization disguised as development,” the statement added.
The group also questioned the need to expand the entire Nairobi–Naivasha stretch, citing reduced traffic volumes due to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). They insisted that only the Naivasha–Mau Summit section requires urgent rehabilitation, which could be funded locally.
MAK has demanded the immediate suspension of the deal and the public release of all related contracts, feasibility studies, and audits of the RMLF.
In response, the Directorate of Public Private Partnerships, through its Director Eng. Kefa Seda, defended the project, saying the PPP model does not amount to privatization but rather a sustainable financing solution.
“This highway remains a strategic national asset under full government ownership,” said Seda. “The PPP allows private players to finance and maintain the road temporarily while ownership and policy control stay with the State.”
Seda noted that Kenya’s road infrastructure requires over Ksh 4 trillion in the next decade an amount that cannot be met through traditional borrowing or tax revenues alone.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has since confirmed that the project’s design work is ongoing, with construction expected to begin soon.
 has strongly opposed the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal for the expansion of the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway, terming it deceptive and exploitative to Kenyan motorists and taxpayers.){kind=link}