Kenyan Treasury: Ending Chinese-developed Rironi–Mau Summit toll road deals could cost up to KSh 180.73bn in 2027/28

The Treasury's draft 2027 Budget Policy Statement lists up to KSh 93.38 billion and KSh 87.35 billion in termination payments on the two contracted sections of the Rironi–Mau Summit toll road in the 2027/28 financial year, a combined KSh 180.73 billion, Business Daily reported on 26 October 2026.

The Treasury describes the amounts as maximum exposure, not an expected bill. It says the likelihood, value and timing of termination payments cannot be determined with certainty in advance, and that it is unlikely all projects would be terminated at the same time. The 2027/28 financial year begins in July 2027.

China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is developing the Rironi–Naivasha–Gilgil and Rironi–Mai Mahiu–Naivasha sections with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). The draft values these sections at KSh 96.382 billion over 30 years, with maximum termination exposure of KSh 93.38 billion in 2027/28.

Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International Engineering (SDRBI) has the Gilgil–Nakuru–Mau Summit section, valued at KSh 86.346 billion over 30 years, with maximum termination exposure of KSh 87.35 billion in 2027/28. Financial close on this section was still pending when the draft was compiled.

For all existing and advanced public-private partnership (PPP) projects, the Treasury puts maximum exposure at KSh 413.8 billion in 2027/28. The two road sections make up nearly 44 per cent of that.

Other large exposures in 2027/28 include the Nairobi Expressway at KSh 72.04 billion, the smart driving licences contract at KSh 50.22 billion, and the power transmission lines of Africa50 and Power Grid Corporation of India at KSh 41.05 billion. Xinhua reported in October 2019 that CRBC was both the concessionaire and the investor on the Nairobi Expressway.

In 2025 the government cancelled an earlier contract with a French consortium led by Vinci Highways to expand the same road, and paid KSh 7.3 billion to settle, according to Business Daily.

The draft projects total revenue of KSh 4.004 trillion in 2027/28 against total spending of KSh 5.416 trillion. The Treasury asked for comments, sent to [email protected], by close of business on 28 October 2026 and will submit the statement to Parliament by 16 November 2026, on a calendar revised for the August 2027 general election.