The proposed Public Private Partnerships (Amendment) Bill, 2026, is expected to strengthen the implementation of major infrastructure projects by enhancing the legal framework governing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), while easing pressure on public financing.
The proposed amendments seek to revise the Public Private Partnerships Act, 2021, to improve the planning, procurement and management of PPP projects through enhanced stakeholder participation, accountability and transparency.
Speaking during a two-day regional public participation forum at the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas in Naivasha, Public Private Partnerships Directorate Financial Analyst Eunice Maina said the reforms would provide greater clarity on the roles and responsibilities of institutions involved in implementing PPP projects.
The Forum brought together stakeholders from Nakuru, Narok and Bomet counties to review the proposed Public Private Partnerships (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Draft PPP (General) Regulations, 2026, and the Draft PPP (Project Management) Regulations, 2026, before they are finalised.
Maina said the amendments would strengthen the legal and institutional framework by defining the responsibilities of implementing agencies, the PPP Directorate, contracting authorities and the PPP Committee while introducing clear timelines for project approval and implementation.
She added that the reforms would also enhance transparency through improved disclosure requirements, enabling members of the public to access more information on PPP projects throughout their lifecycle.
According to Maina, the proposed law places greater emphasis on local content by requiring private investors to prioritise qualified Kenyans for employment and procure goods and services from local suppliers whenever possible.
She said investors would also be required to prepare comprehensive local content plans demonstrating how communities living around project areas would benefit through employment opportunities, skills transfer, business opportunities and community development initiatives.
“Investors will be expected to show how local communities will benefit from projects, particularly through employment opportunities for people with the required skills and increased participation of local businesses,” she said.
Maina noted that the reforms would promote greater participation of local contractors and suppliers while creating more employment opportunities for graduates and skilled workers involved in infrastructure projects.
The proposed changes are of particular significance to Nakuru County, where the multi-billion-shilling Rironi-Mau Summit Highway is being implemented under the PPP model.
The highway project is expected to expand the existing road into a dual carriageway, easing traffic congestion and significantly reducing travel time between Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru and Mau Summit.
The road is a critical section of the Northern Corridor transport network linking the Port of Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, making it one of the country’s most strategic transport projects.
Responding to concerns over toll charges, Maina assured stakeholders that feasibility studies for PPP roads include affordability assessments and willingness-to-pay surveys to determine whether motorists can reasonably meet the proposed charges.
She added that alternative routes would remain available for road users who choose not to use the tolled highway.
Maina encouraged members of the public to continue submitting their views and memoranda through the PPP Directorate’s online platform, noting that all submissions would be considered before the Bill and accompanying regulations are finalised.
A participant, Daniel Murugu from Nakuru County, welcomed the proposed reforms, saying they would enable the government to mobilise private investment for critical infrastructure projects at a time of limited public resources.
He observed that projects such as the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway would improve road safety, reduce travel time, lower transport costs and stimulate economic growth along the corridor.
Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Josiah Odongo commended residents for participating in the consultative forum, saying public participation remained a key pillar of policy formulation and democratic governance.
He urged wananchi to continue attending similar forums to ensure their views are incorporated into national policies, adding that well-managed PPP projects have the potential to create jobs, stimulate local economies and accelerate the country’s infrastructure development.
By Erastus Gichohi and Orpah Onyambu
