Plans by President William Ruto’s administration to transform the iconic Great Rift Valley Viewpoint into a luxury cable car tourism hub have collided head-on with a fierce political counter-offensive from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the integrity of the entire Rironi–Mau Summit Highway project.
However, Chirchir offered no construction timelines, cost estimates, or procurement details fueling sharp skepticism from Gachagua, who has branded the broader KSh 200 billion highway corridor a scandal-ridden political project ahead of the 2027 elections.
Addressing supporters in Kiambu, Gachagua alleged that the administration cancelled a cheaper KSh 150 billion deal with a French consortium, paid out KSh 7 billion in penalties, and awarded a KSh 200 billion deal to Chinese firms only for Beijing to withhold funding over election risks.
"There is no contract for that road. Money belonging to pensioners has been taken from NSSF against the law, and Sh30 billion given to two Chinese companies," Gachagua claimed, dismissing official explanations that recent delays were caused by bitumen shortages.
For over 300 local curio traders whose stalls were flattened to clear the road reserve, the debate boils down to one urgent question: whether the promised cable car hub will ever materialize or if it is merely another grand speech masking an unfinished highway.
Source:https://peopledaily.digital/business/rironi-mau-summit-how-ruto-plans-to-turn-kenyas-famous-rift-valley-viewpoint-into-a-cable-car-tourism-hub
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