World Bank Backs KenHA Plan for National Expressway Network

The Kenya National Highways Authority, or KenHA, has confirmed that the World Bank will provide the financial support needed to draft a National Expressway Network Masterplan. This document will serve as the primary guide for the future of high-speed, controlled-access roads across the country.

According to a statement from the roads agency. The master plan is designed to identify and prioritize specific corridors that are suitable for conversion into expressways. The goal is to create a seamless connection between major economic hubs and neighboring countries, although the agency remains cautious about specific timelines for groundbreaking.

The funding falls under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project. This initiative aims to improve regional integration and trade by upgrading the infrastructure that links Kenya to its neighbors. KenHA officials noted that the master plan will focus on the long-term sustainability of these massive capital investments.

The move comes at a time when the government is looking for ways to reduce the pressure on the national budget. President Ruto has previously signaled a preference for public-private partnerships, known as PPPs, to fund large-scale infrastructure without increasing the public debt.

The success of the Nairobi Expressway, which was the first major project of its kind in the region, has provided a template for these discussions. KenHA plans to use the data from that project to inform how new routes might be managed, including the potential for tolling systems to recover construction costs.

One of the primary corridors under consideration remains the Nairobi-Mombasa route. While various proposals for this stretch have been discussed for years, the new masterplan is expected to provide a definitive technical and financial roadmap for its realization. The locals, who rely on the existing highway for trade, have long called for an expansion to ease chronic congestion.

Beyond the coastal route, the master plan will evaluate the feasibility of expressways heading towards the western parts of the country. This includes the Rironi-Mau Summit stretch, which has faced several delays in the past despite being a critical artery for transit cargo heading to Uganda and Rwanda.

The World Bank’s involvement adds a layer of technical oversight to the process. Their experts will work with Kenyan engineers to ensure that the proposed network meets international safety and environmental standards. This partnership is also expected to make the projects more attractive to international investors and private developers.

While the masterplan is being developed, KenHA is expected to hold consultations with various stakeholders, including transport saccos and logistics firms. These discussions will help determine how the new road network will integrate with existing highways and secondary roads to avoid creating bottlenecks at entry and exit points.

For the construction industry in Kenya, the announcement signals a shift toward more structured, long-term planning. Rather than a series of isolated projects, the master plan envisions a connected grid that can handle the projected increase in vehicular traffic over the next two decades.

The agency has not yet disclosed the exact amount of the World Bank grant, but emphasized that the study will be comprehensive. It will cover everything from geological surveys to economic impact assessments, ensuring that each mile of the proposed network is justified by projected demand.