The Rironi-Mau Summit Highway is set to receive a major technology upgrade, with solar-powered facilities and fibre optic connectivity being incorporated into the project.

The new technology is expected to improve road operations while also expanding access to high-speed internet along the busy transport corridor.

Project Manager Eric Yu said solar energy would be used to power facilities along the highway once the road becomes operational.

About three million watts of solar capacity is expected to be installed as part of the project, providing a renewable source of energy for various road facilities.

The highway will also have fibre optic infrastructure, creating an opportunity to improve internet connectivity for businesses, institutions and communities located along the corridor.

The fibre network is expected to support Kenya’s wider digital transformation agenda by providing infrastructure that can support high-speed internet and digital services.

The government has previously announced plans to install fibre optic cables alongside major roads as part of efforts to expand broadband connectivity across the country.

The Rironi-Mau Summit project is also incorporating environmental measures. Authorities have begun tree-planting activities to help reduce the environmental impact of construction, with thousands of trees targeted along the project corridor.

The Rironi-Naivasha section is expected to be fully tarmacked by December 2026, while the wider highway project is intended to improve transport between Nairobi, Nakuru and western Kenya.

Once completed, the highway is expected to ease congestion, improve road safety and make the movement of people and goods more efficient.

The combination of modern road infrastructure, renewable energy and fibre connectivity means the project could become more than just a highway, linking transport development with Kenya’s growing digital economy.