NAIROBI — Kenya plans to construct an aerial cable car system at the Great Rift Valley Viewpoint along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway as part of a broader effort to enhance tourism while upgrading one of the country's busiest transport corridors.
The proposal was announced by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir during an inspection tour of the ongoing Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway project, a major infrastructure development expected to improve connectivity between Nairobi and western Kenya.
According to Chirchir, the planned cable car will link the upper section of the A8 highway with the lower escarpment along the A8 South (Mai Mahiu) route, giving visitors panoramic views of the Great Rift Valley while creating a new tourism attraction.
The government also plans to develop supporting facilities around the viewpoint, including viewing decks, curio markets, hotels and other hospitality amenities aimed at attracting both local and international tourists.
Chirchir said the redevelopment will also provide designated commercial spaces for local traders and curio vendors affected by the expansion of the highway, ensuring they continue to benefit from the area's tourist traffic.
The cable car project forms part of the wider 233-kilometre Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway upgrade, which is being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The KSh181 billion project includes the dualling of approximately 175 kilometres of the A8 highway and the rehabilitation of 58 kilometres of the A8 South route through Mai Mahiu.
Once completed, the highway will improve transport between Nairobi and western Kenya while serving as a key regional corridor linking Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.
The upgraded road will feature up to six lanes in high-traffic sections, while the government says toll charges will remain lower than those proposed under an earlier concession agreement. Authorities have also committed to maintaining alternative non-toll routes for motorists.
Chirchir said construction on the Rironi–Naivasha section had experienced temporary delays due to shortages of bitumen, but contractors have since resumed paving works and are laying the final asphalt surface.
The government expects the upgraded carriageway to be opened to motorists before the December 2026 holiday season to ease congestion on one of Kenya's busiest highways. Remaining works, including road signage, guardrails and other safety installations, will continue into early 2027.
The proposed cable car is expected to transform the Great Rift Valley Viewpoint from a traditional roadside stop into a destination for tourism, leisure and local commerce, complementing the wider highway modernization project.