Government Releases Sh175 Billion to Restart Stalled Mombasa Highway Projects

Construction crews are expected back on site along major Coast highways following the government's release of Sh175 billion to address long-standing payment arrears and land compensation disputes.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced the disbursement during a visit to the region, where he inspected ongoing works. The funds, sourced through securitisation of the Road Maintenance Levy, cover verified bills for road construction nationwide but target immediate relief for stalled projects in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.

Chirchir said the payment would allow contractors to resume work without further delays, rehire workers laid off during the slowdowns, and plan remaining phases more reliably. "We have just rolled out the roads, a pending bill of Sh175 billion, and we expect an immediate impact on the construction sector as the stalled projects are set to resume," he stated. He added that part of his trip focused on resolving specific compensation holdups in areas such as Mazeras, Kanamai, and Bombolulu.

The affected projects include the dualling of the Mombasa-Mariakani highway, designated as A8, which runs 41.7 kilometres and serves as a critical artery out of Mombasa Port. This route forms part of the Northern Corridor, carrying cargo to landlocked countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Drivers report spending up to two hours in traffic bottlenecks along the Jomvu-Mazeras stretch, one of the worst choke points where trucks and public service vehicles compete for space.

The Jomvu-Mariakani section stands at 75 percent completion. It is co-financed by multiple partners: the African Development Bank Group at 42.2 percent, German Development Bank (KfW) at 22.2 percent, European Investment Bank at 22.2 percent, Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund at 8.9 percent, and the Government of Kenya at 4.5 percent. The overall project budget for this lot is Sh22 billion.

Parallel efforts continue on the Mombasa-Kilifi highway, particularly the Mtwapa-Kwa Kadzengo-Kilifi segment along A7, which has reached 80 percent completion. Originally slated for handover by December 2025, delays arose from unresolved compensation claims. This corridor ties into a larger Sh789 billion East African "Silk Road" initiative linking Kenya's Coast to Tanzania through segments such as Mtwapa-Malindi and Baga Moyo-Lunga Lunga.

Both highways feature standard dualling to six lanes in sections, along with flyovers, bus bays, service roads, truck parking areas, pedestrian footbridges, walkways, and street lighting. The upgrades aim to ease chronic congestion at the port exit and improve turnaround times for commercial and passenger traffic.

The payment release follows broader efforts to tackle arrears that have hampered the roads sector for years. Contractors had faced cash flow problems, leading to workforce reductions and cost escalations on delayed sites. Chirchir described the settlement as a direct benefit, enabling firms to mobilise equipment and labour again.

The Mombasa-Mariakani route remains the sole major exit for port traffic heading inland via Nairobi, underscoring its role in national and regional trade. The Kilifi extension supports coastal connectivity and cross-border movement with Tanzania.

No revised completion dates were provided in the announcement, though Chirchir indicated that clearing the financial bottlenecks should accelerate progress on remaining works.