The High Court has suspended a Ksh 2.1 billion road agreement between Nakuru County and the National Youth Service (NYS). The order comes in response to an urgent petition filed by Paul Muchiri and Kepha Omuyoma, who argue that the contract was signed on November 7,  2025 without adhering to the statutory procurement process and without sufficient public participation.

The petitioners asked the court to issue conservatory orders that would bar both the county and NYS from taking any steps to operationalise the deal and to prevent any disbursement of funds to NYS until the substantive issues are adjudicated.

Justice Julius Nangea, who heard the application, certified the matter as urgent and granted the interim relief.

His ruling suspends the implementation of the agreement until 19 January 2026, when the petition is scheduled for mention.

The judge also set a tight timetable for the parties: the county and NYS must file their responses within seven days, and all parties are required to exchange written submissions within twenty‑one days.

The contested road project, intended to improve infrastructure in Nakuru County, has drawn public scrutiny because of concerns over transparency and value for money.

Critics say that bypassing procurement rules undermines accountability, while supporters of the deal argue that the involvement of NYS could expedite implementation.

With the court’s interim order in place, the parties will now prepare their arguments, and the outcome is expected to clarify the legality of the procurement and the future of the road scheme.

The case may set a precedent for how large public‑private partnerships are scrutinised under Kenya’s procurement laws.

Observers note that the outcome could influence future infrastructure projects and the extent to which youth‑service entities are involved in major contracts in the coming months and beyond.