Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway Tendering and Construction to Commence

President Ruto announced on Wednesday that the long-awaited tendering and construction works for the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway are set to begin soon. Speaking from State House, Nairobi, the President indicated that the project, which has undergone various stages of review and planning, is moving into its active implementation phase to address the logistical constraints along the country’s busiest transport corridor.

The project, officially known as the Usahihi-Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway, is designed as a 440-kilometer high-speed corridor linking the capital to the port city of Mombasa. It is expected to run parallel to the existing A8 highway, providing an alternative route for both transit and passenger vehicles. The development is being spearheaded by Usahihi Expressway Limited, with backing from the American private equity firm Everstrong Capital.

Infrastructure plans for the expressway indicate a four-lane dual carriageway that is expandable to six lanes in high-traffic sections. The design focuses on reducing travel time between the two cities from the current average of ten hours to approximately four and a half hours. This reduction is expected to lower the cost of doing business by streamlining the movement of freight from the Port of Mombasa to the hinterland.

The project is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership model, specifically a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain-Transfer framework. Under this arrangement, the private consortium is responsible for sourcing the required capital, which is estimated at approximately Sh464 billion. The developers will manage the road for a 30-year concession period, recovering their investment through a closed tolling system.

President Ruto noted that the commencement of works follows extensive discussions regarding the project’s feasibility and its alignment with national infrastructure goals. The government has previously emphasized that this model ensures the project does not add to the national debt, as the financial risk is carried by the private developers rather than the taxpayers.

Preparations for the project include significant land acquisition requirements. The developers have reportedly set aside funds for compensation to those affected by the road’s alignment. The route will feature 19 interchanges and is designed to include overpasses and underpasses, particularly in sections traversing the Tsavo ecosystem, to allow for the continued movement of wildlife.

The existing Nairobi-Mombasa highway will remain open as a non-tolled alternative for motorists who choose not to use the new expressway. The introduction of the tolled road is intended to segment traffic, allowing heavy commercial vehicles and long-distance travelers a more efficient path while decongesting the original A8 route.

Construction is expected to take between three and four years once the ground is broken. The project is anticipated to create thousands of jobs during the construction phase and provide new opportunities for the locals along the corridor through the establishment of rest stops and service centers.