KeNHA Advances 30.4km Dual Carriageway on Jomvu-Mariakani A8

The Coast region, home to the Port of Mombasa, serves as Kenya’s main gateway for international trade and cargo. To support this role, the Kenya National Highways Authority is implementing the 30.4-kilometre Jomvu–Mariakani Lot 2 project. Works are upgrading a key section of the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway (A8) into a modern dual carriageway.

Dualed sections. /Handout

The project expands the corridor from two to four lanes. This is expected to ease congestion and improve the movement of cargo along the Northern Corridor that links the port to the hinterland and neighbouring countries.

Ongoing asphalt laying works /Handout

Key features include retaining walls in challenging terrain around Mazeras, flyovers, improved drainage systems, pedestrian footbridges and reserved truck parking facilities.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo highlighted the works in an update this week. He noted that the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration is providing coordinated traffic management and local administrative support. The aim is to ensure smooth and safe movement of people and goods while construction continues.

Lot 1 of the wider Mombasa–Kwa Jomvu–Mariakani programme, covering the stretch into Kwa Jomvu, is largely complete and has already opened to traffic. Lot 2 focuses on the hinterland section through Miritini, Mazeras and up to the Mariakani weighbridge. Funding for the works comes from the European Investment Bank, the German Development Bank, the European Union and the Government of Kenya.

The dual carriageway is designed to handle high volumes of heavy port trailers. Once finished, it should reduce travel times, improve logistics efficiency and strengthen regional connectivity on one of East Africa’s busiest trade routes.