Activists Rush to Court to Stop Ruto’s Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road Project Hours After Launch

A fresh legal fight has begun over the newly launched Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road project after activists rushed to the High Court in Nakuru seeking to stop construction just hours after President William Ruto flagged it off.

The Motorists Association of Kenya together with three petitioners Peter Murima, Joyce Wamahiu and Josphat Kamau filed the case on Friday asking the court to suspend all construction and preparatory works on the multi-billion-shilling project.

They want the orders in place until the court decides whether the project is legal, economically sound and genuinely in the public interest.

In their filings, the petitioners say the government’s plan to revive tolling through a Public Private Partnership and a Build Operate Transfer model hands control of a key national transport corridor to private and foreign companies.

They argue this threatens national sovereignty and could trap taxpayers in expensive long-term deals.

Artistic impression of Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road

They also claim public officials intentionally delayed the expansion of the highway for more than ten years to create a crisis that would justify privatising the road and bringing back toll charges. According to them, political and commercial elites locally and abroad are the ones who stand to benefit from toll revenue and long leases while ordinary Kenyans bear the cost.

The Roads Cabinet Secretary, the Kenya National Highways Authority, the Director of Public Private Partnerships, the China Road and Bridge Corporation, the National Social Security Fund and the Attorney General have been listed as respondents.

Justice Julius Nangea has directed the petitioners to serve all the respondents, who have seven days to file their replies. The case will return to court on December 5 for directions.

The suit was filed on the same day the President launched the project, putting immediate pressure on one of the administration’s biggest infrastructure plans.