The iconic Great Rift Valley Viewpoint, one of the famous tourist stops along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, is facing a major transformation as the ongoing expansion of the Rironi–Mau Summit Highway gathers momentum.

The 175-kilometre highway built through a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model was launched by President William Ruto on November 28, 2025.

For years, the viewpoint has been a familiar stopover for local and international tourists travelling along the highways, as they normally pull over to take photos, admire the landscape and purchase souvenirs from traders who have established businesses.

Small-scale traders have been selling traditional crafts, souvenirs, ornaments, Maasai shukas and other locally made products at the viewpoint.

Some of the remaining traders along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway on August 24, 2026. Many of the shops have already been demolished as dualling of the Rironi -Mau Summit road continues. The remaining traders have been issued with eviction notices.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation

However, the scenic site, which for decades offered motorists and tourists a breathtaking view of the expansive Great Rift Valley, has now been replaced by demolition debris and construction activities to give way to the road expansion.

Bulldozers which are on the site have already taken down some of the curio shops and other businesses that once welcomed visitors in order to create space.

The ongoing demolitions have also created anxiety among traders whose businesses are still standing and waiting, with many uncertain about when they too could be required to vacate.

Mr Bernard Kihiu Njoka, one of the traders who is also the Secretary for the Kwa Mathore Viewpoint Community based Organisation said that the group has 50 kiosks selling different goods.

According to Mr Njoka, a trader at the viewpoint for the past 30 years, each kiosk has employed four other people, which translates to 200 members drawn from five neighbouring towns.

"Relocate us"

He said that the business has stabilised the towns, including Mathore, Nyambare, Escarpment, Getithia, Rukuma and Kimende, all within the viewpoint, adding that they are now living in fear that the demolition of the businesses' premises will cause the towns to collapse.

Mr Njoka told the Nation that they were served with a notice of intended demolition by the Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) on March 24, requiring them to demolish the structures and vacate within 30 days.

He said since then they have been living with anxiety till recently, when some of the business premises were demolished, leaving a few still operating.

Mr Njoka said that they have now been caught between continuing to invest in their businesses and preparing for the possibility of their structures being cleared or employing more workers in preparation for the Christmas festivities.

“This is the only business I have known almost all my life, it has helped me raise my six children as they have been able to go to school and also provide for my family needs. We are not opposing the project, but pleading with the government to consider relocating us,” he said.

The ongoing construction of the Nakuru-Eldoret highway on January 19, 2026. It is part of the Sh200 billion dualling of Rironi-Mau Summit highway.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation

For Mr Peter Mwangi Kinjanjui, who operated curio shops is counting losses after his premises were brought down, leaving him without a source of income.

Mr Mwangi, a resident of Lari, said that he has been operating the shop for the past 25 years and had invested heavily in his business over the years, building his customer base.

He said that the highway expansion has left a painful trade-off between improved infrastructure and the loss of businesses that had supported their families for years.

Mr Mwangi has now been forced to seek help from other traders whose businesses remain standing, saying that they have rented him a small section as they await further directions.

“We have different viewpoints with at least 300 traders, where I had set up my shop but it was demolished last week. I had to request my colleagues to host and luckily they agreed. We do not know whether there will be room for us once construction is completed. The viewpoints created an opportunity for us to sell locally made products,” he said

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Another trader called on the government to come up with a deliberate plan to preserve the tourism value of the site while accommodating the new highway so that tourists can continue stopping at the viewpoint and interacting with local traders.

“We fear that if we are not provided with alternative trading spaces, we will permanently lose access to the tourist traffic that sustains our businesses. We would like them to finish the highway and develop the viewpoint,” he said

The multi –billion-shilling Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway is expected to decongest the Northern corridor and improve traffic flow.

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