Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced that motorists who prefer not to pay tolls on the upcoming Rironi‑Mau Summit Expressway have several alternative roads to use once the highway opens.

In an interview with historian Enock Sikolia, Chirchir said the government has completed the Mau Mau A1 road, which runs from Kijabe through the escarpment to Mahi Mahiu, and is ready for traffic.

He also identified a Gilgil‑Kanyariri corridor that links to Nakuru, and a route through Nyandarua, as additional non‑toll options for drivers traveling between Nairobi and the Rift Valley.

The Ngong‑Suswa road, already completed, will be further strengthened to improve its suitability for motorists heading toward the Rift Valley.

Chirchir addressed concerns from residents living along the expressway, explaining that a system will allow locals to travel on certain sections without paying tolls, depending on where they join and exit the highway.

Despite the alternatives, the CS urged motorists to consider the tolled expressway for its time and fuel savings, noting that detour routes may involve longer distances.

The proposed toll rates are Ksh8 per kilometre on the Rironi‑Gilgil stretch and Ksh8.50 per kilometre between Gilgil and Mau Summit, amounting to roughly Ksh1,447 for the full 175‑kilometre route.

The announcement follows KeNHA’s earlier pledge to identify alternative routes after stakeholder concerns, including those raised by COFEK and the Motorists Association of Kenya.

A recent petition by COFEK challenging the Ksh8‑per‑kilometre toll was dismissed by the Public Private Partnership Petition Committee for being filed outside the statutory period.

The Rironi‑Mau Summit project, valued at Ksh200 billion, spans about 175 km on the A8 corridor and an additional 59 km on the Rironi‑Mai Mahiu‑Naivasha A8 South corridor, implemented through a public‑private partnership.