**Kenya and China Seal Major Infrastructure Deal to Expand Highways and Build Nithi Bridge**
Quote from Lawyer on April 25, 2025, 5:34 amPresident William Ruto secured a landmark agreement with China during his inaugural state visit to Beijing, marking a significant step in advancing Kenya’s infrastructure and economic development. The deal, formalized through 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), encompasses major projects aimed at transforming Kenya’s transport and digital infrastructure. Key among these is the expansion and dualling of three critical highways: the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Malaba highway, the Kiambu-Northern Bypass, and the Eldoret Bypass. Additionally, the agreement includes the construction of the Nithi Bridge along the Embu-Meru Road, a notorious accident blackspot known as the “killer bridge” due to its dangerous design and steep terrain, which has claimed numerous lives over the years.
The infrastructure package also involves extending the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Malaba, covering Phases II and III, to enhance regional connectivity and trade across East Africa. This follows Kenya’s cancellation of a Ksh190 billion deal with a French consortium for the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway, citing high toll fees, and reflects a strategic pivot toward Chinese financing through public-private partnerships (PPPs). President Ruto emphasized that these investments, facilitated by China’s Belt and Road Initiative, will accelerate East Africa’s transport network integration, with projects like the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway already demonstrating tangible benefits for Kenya’s economy.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the agreements bolster Kenya’s digital and educational sectors. China committed to expanding the nation’s fibre optic network under the National Digital Superhighway Programme, aiming to enhance connectivity and spur digital innovation. Additionally, an Intelligent Transport System and Junction Improvement Project will be implemented in Nairobi to streamline traffic flow and digitize penalty payments for errant motorists. The deal also includes funding for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) III Project, designed to modernize TVET institutions and equip Kenyan youth with technical skills, fostering employability and economic growth.
The agreements were signed during high-level talks between President Ruto and Chinese President Xi Jinping, elevating Kenya-China relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the New Era. The discussions also covered trade, green energy, and cultural exchanges, with both leaders pledging to uphold World Trade Organization principles and oppose unilateral sanctions and trade barriers. Hussein Mohamed, State House spokesperson, highlighted the significance of these deals, noting their potential to decongest major transport routes and save lives, particularly at the Nithi Bridge.
This partnership comes amid Kenya’s efforts to address resource constraints, as evidenced by President Ruto’s earlier allocation of Ksh60 billion to resume stalled projects. The Nithi Bridge, previously estimated at Ksh5 billion for redesign, had been a focal point of public concern, with Ruto promising completion by 2027 to curb its deadly toll. The Chinese-backed projects signal a renewed momentum for Kenya’s infrastructure agenda, building on prior collaborations like the Nairobi Expressway and positioning Kenya as a hub for regional connectivity and economic progress.
President William Ruto secured a landmark agreement with China during his inaugural state visit to Beijing, marking a significant step in advancing Kenya’s infrastructure and economic development. The deal, formalized through 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), encompasses major projects aimed at transforming Kenya’s transport and digital infrastructure. Key among these is the expansion and dualling of three critical highways: the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Malaba highway, the Kiambu-Northern Bypass, and the Eldoret Bypass. Additionally, the agreement includes the construction of the Nithi Bridge along the Embu-Meru Road, a notorious accident blackspot known as the “killer bridge” due to its dangerous design and steep terrain, which has claimed numerous lives over the years.
The infrastructure package also involves extending the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Malaba, covering Phases II and III, to enhance regional connectivity and trade across East Africa. This follows Kenya’s cancellation of a Ksh190 billion deal with a French consortium for the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway, citing high toll fees, and reflects a strategic pivot toward Chinese financing through public-private partnerships (PPPs). President Ruto emphasized that these investments, facilitated by China’s Belt and Road Initiative, will accelerate East Africa’s transport network integration, with projects like the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway already demonstrating tangible benefits for Kenya’s economy.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the agreements bolster Kenya’s digital and educational sectors. China committed to expanding the nation’s fibre optic network under the National Digital Superhighway Programme, aiming to enhance connectivity and spur digital innovation. Additionally, an Intelligent Transport System and Junction Improvement Project will be implemented in Nairobi to streamline traffic flow and digitize penalty payments for errant motorists. The deal also includes funding for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) III Project, designed to modernize TVET institutions and equip Kenyan youth with technical skills, fostering employability and economic growth.
The agreements were signed during high-level talks between President Ruto and Chinese President Xi Jinping, elevating Kenya-China relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the New Era. The discussions also covered trade, green energy, and cultural exchanges, with both leaders pledging to uphold World Trade Organization principles and oppose unilateral sanctions and trade barriers. Hussein Mohamed, State House spokesperson, highlighted the significance of these deals, noting their potential to decongest major transport routes and save lives, particularly at the Nithi Bridge.
This partnership comes amid Kenya’s efforts to address resource constraints, as evidenced by President Ruto’s earlier allocation of Ksh60 billion to resume stalled projects. The Nithi Bridge, previously estimated at Ksh5 billion for redesign, had been a focal point of public concern, with Ruto promising completion by 2027 to curb its deadly toll. The Chinese-backed projects signal a renewed momentum for Kenya’s infrastructure agenda, building on prior collaborations like the Nairobi Expressway and positioning Kenya as a hub for regional connectivity and economic progress.