{
  "id": 19675572,
  "title": "Ruto Explains KSh6.4bn Payout to Exit Previous Rironi-Mau Summit Road Deal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/ruto-explains-ksh6-4bn-payout-to-exit-previous-rironi-mau-summit-road",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T15:36:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/ruto-explains-ksh6-4bn-payout-to-exit-previous-rironi-mau-summit-road-deal/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kenyans are benefiting from a more cost-effective contract to build the Rironi-Mau Summit road compared to the previous deal with a French company, according to President William Ruto. The French firm was awarded the contract in 2020 but failed to construct any road in six years, leading to a legal battle that could have cost the nation between $200 million and $300 million without yielding any progress. To avoid such a costly legal battle, Ruto opted to pay $50 million (KSh6.4 billion) to exit the dispute and start construction. The current project is now 40% complete, with road works reaching this milestone less than a year after resuming, compared to the previous agreement's lack of progress. The current contract covers 210km, including a 70km six-lane section between Naivasha and Nakuru, whereas the French company's contract was for 175km dual-lane construction. Additionally, motorists will pay KSh8 per kilometre in tolls for the current road, a reduction from the previous KSh12 per kilometre. Ruto dismissed critics who view the project as propaganda, emphasizing his focus on value for money and proper utilization of public resources. He also announced plans to extend the dual carriageway to Malaba through Eldoret and Kericho, Kisii, and Kisumu, as well as dualing the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, aiming to complete these projects without incurring additional taxes or increasing public debt.",
  "summary": "“I could clearly see that the matter in court would cost us more money than the negotiation we had. We decided to pay $50 million (KSh6.4 billion) and exit the contract court rather than continue with a suit that could cost us possibly between $200 million (KSh25.8 billion) and $300 million (KSh38.7 billion) and then no road would be built,” he said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}