NSSF Partners With Chinese Company to Fund Rironi-Mau Summit Road

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF), partnering with the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has expressed interest in undertaking the Rironi-Mau Summit Road project.

In disclosure documents published on Tuesday, May 27, KeNHA announced that CRBC was in a consortium with NSSF for the road project, which is estimated to cost over Ksh90 billion.

This comes weeks after reports emerged that the government intende to use NSSF contributions for infrastructural projects.

While NSSF’s role in the consortium was not revealed, it is expected that the institution will finance the construction of the road.

The Chinese company, on the other hand, is expected to undertake the construction exercise given that it has already undertaken other infrastructural projects in Kenya, including the Nairobi Expressway, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), and the ongoing Talanta Stadium.

However, it is not a done deal for NSSF and CRBC, as another Chinese firm - Shandong Hi Speed Road & Bridge International Engineering Co., Ltd - has expressed interest in the project.

Being a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, the company that will get the tender will toll the road to recoup the money used in the construction.

Also Read: List of All Highways KeNHA Plans to Build or Upgrade By 2027

“The project is a brownfield project that will involve the upgrade, dualling and expansion of the Rironi- Nakuru -Mau Summit Road (175km) and rehabilitation of the 58 km A8 South between Rironi and Naivasha via Maai Mahiu, to pave the way for tolling under a DBFOMT model,” read the disclosure in part.

“The toll rates shall be determined in line with the National Tolling Policy (when approved). Escalation of toll rates shall be done as per the Policy.”

In its documents, KeNHA explained that the project was vital given the numerous traffic jams regularly experienced on the road during festive seasons like Christmas.

“The A8 road section is part of the Trans-African Highway (Northern Corridor) that connects Kenya to Uganda. The route experiences heavy traffic due to the movement of goods and people, playing a vital role in trade and regional connectivity within East Africa,” read the disclosure in part.

“Given the fiscal constraints in Kenya, the PPP model allows for leveraging private sector expertise and resources to deliver critical infrastructure projects. This approach also ensures efficient project execution and long-term sustainability.”