The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has pledged to plant four trees for every single one removed during the dualisation of the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway. This commitment ensures transparency and compliance with environmental regulations. The project is one of the government's major infrastructure upgrades.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has pledged to plant four trees for every single one removed during the ongoing dualisation of the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway. In a statement on March 3, 2026, KeNHA said each tree cleared along the route is carefully documented and accounted for to ensure transparency and compliance with environmental regulations. "At the ongoing dualling of the Rironi – Mau Summit Highway, each tree removed is documented and accounted for to ensure it is replanted in a ratio of one to four (1:4). This meticulous exercise is done in a transparent and responsible environmental management manner," the authority stated.
The Rironi-Mau Summit Highway expansion is a 175-kilometre road upgrade launched by President William Ruto in November 2025 under the public-private partnership (PPP) programme, at an expected cost of between Ksh 170 billion and Ksh 200 billion. It aims to ease congestion and improve road safety along the busy transport corridor linking Nairobi to western Kenya.
As part of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, KeNHA has handed over the cut trees to the National Youth Service (NYS) to promote resource utilisation while supporting other public institutions. Beyond restoring vegetation, the tree replacement programme will enhance biodiversity, improve the aesthetic value of the highway corridor, and act as carbon sinks, contributing to climate resilience efforts.
Work along the corridor has intensified, with sections of the highway expected to be ready for use by April 2027, as announced by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo. The full dualisation is targeted for June 2027, though one source mentions 2028 for completion. The project has generated thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities and prioritises local materials to stimulate surrounding economies.
