The Nairobi-Nakuru Highway has become a focal point of frustration for commuters grappling with severe traffic congestion. Against this backdrop, Moses Kuria, President William Ruto’s senior advisor in the Council of Economic Advisors, has made a passionate plea for Kenyans to reconsider their resistance to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in funding and developing critical infrastructure projects.
The former Trade Cabinet Secretary pointed to the long-standing challenges on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway as a glaring example of the urgent need for innovative solutions to infrastructure development. The Rironi-Mau Summit dueling project, which remains stalled, could have been fast-tracked under a PPP arrangement, Kuria argued. He emphasized that the model provides a sustainable way to fund large-scale projects without overburdening public coffers.
The Gridlock Crisis
Kuria’s remarks come in the wake of unprecedented traffic gridlock that has left thousands of commuters stranded for hours. The congestion, exacerbated by the influx of vehicles heading to upcountry destinations for Christmas, has turned the usually busy highway into a parking lot since Thursday night.
In response to the crisis, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja deployed additional officers on Friday to manage the traffic flow and assist in opening up the highway. However, the situation has underscored the dire need for long-term solutions rather than reactive measures.
“The mess we’re seeing on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway should be a wake-up call. This is a major economic artery, and its current state is unacceptable,” Kuria stated. He added that the bottlenecks on the road are not just an inconvenience to travelers but also a significant impediment to economic productivity.
The PPP Debate
Public-Private Partnerships have long been touted as a viable mechanism to address Kenya’s infrastructure deficit. Under the PPP model, private investors partner with the government to finance, develop, and manage public infrastructure projects. While this approach has successfully delivered projects like the Nairobi Expressway, it has also faced significant pushback from sections of the public who view it with suspicion.
Kuria highlighted this skepticism, noting that Kenyans often resist projects under the PPP framework due to fears of excessive costs and inadequate transparency. He called for a shift in mindset, urging citizens to view PPPs as a practical way to bridge the funding gap in infrastructure development.
“The resistance to PPPs is one of the reasons we’re lagging in infrastructure. Projects like the Rironi-Mau Summit dueling could have been completed if we embraced this model earlier,” he said.
The Way Forward
Infrastructure experts agree that the expansion of the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway is overdue. With its heavy traffic and strategic importance as a gateway to Western Kenya and neighboring countries, the road’s upgrade is essential. However, the financial constraints faced by the government necessitate innovative funding solutions.
Kuria emphasized that PPPs not only bring in much-needed capital but also introduce efficiency and expertise from private sector players. He urged Kenyans to demand accountability while supporting initiatives that promise long-term benefits for the country.
In the meantime, the current traffic chaos has dampened the Christmas spirit for many travelers. Social media platforms have been flooded with complaints from commuters stuck in the jam for hours, with some expressing frustration over the lack of a clear plan to address the perennial problem.
As the government scrambles to ease congestion during the holiday season, Kuria’s call for a rethink of infrastructure funding models serves as a timely reminder of the critical need for sustainable and forward-looking solutions. Whether Kenyans will heed this call remains to be seen, but the conversation around PPPs is one that the country cannot afford to ignore any longer.
