Motorists using the James Gichuru‑Rironi Road may soon be required to pay tolls as the National Treasury unveiled a plan to manage the corridor through a public‑private partnership.

The Treasury’s Quarterly PPP Status Update notes that the toll scheme will be introduced once the ongoing Ksh20 billion rehabilitation works are completed, and that a private partner will be selected to operate the road under a management contract.

According to the Treasury, the project is a brownfield initiative involving the completion of outstanding civil works and the introduction of tolling to create a sustainable framework for operation, maintenance and long‑term management of the high‑traffic corridor.

The 25‑kilometre stretch runs from James Gichuru Junction near Westlands through Kangemi, Uthiru, Kinoo and Gitaru to Rironi, linking with the Nairobi‑Nakuru highway and forming part of the Northern Corridor that connects Mombasa to several East‑African neighbours.

The upgrade adds a three‑lane carriageway in each direction, service roads and improved drainage, with the Kenya National Highways Authority estimating travel time between James Gichuru Junction and Rironi will drop from one hour to 30 minutes.

Construction, which began in August 2017, experienced delays after the World Bank withdrew funding, prompting the government to seek alternative financing and now a PPP model to complete the works and ensure long‑term maintenance.

If the tolling plan proceeds, residents of Kangemi, Uthiru, Kinoo, Gitaru and surrounding areas could face higher transport costs, as motorists would be required to pay for using the upgraded corridor.