The Usahihi Expressway Limited has issued a statement clarifying reports stating that the government of Kenya has cancelled the Usahihi Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway project.
This comes after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) in a notice on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, revealed the reasons behind the rejection of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) proposal by American-based private equity infrastructure firm Everstrong Capital for the construction of the expressway under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Maintain and Transfer (DBFOMT) model.
According to KeNHA, Everstrong Capital Kenya’s plan to build the 459-kilometre highway from Mlolongo in Machakos County to Bonje in Mombasa County linking Kenya’s two largest cities failed to meet key evaluation criteria set by the PPP Committee.
Everstrong Capital maintains project is still under review
However, Usahihi Expressway, in a statement on Wednesday, clarified the status of the project, revealing that contrary to recent media reports, the project has not been rejected or terminated.
The project, according to the company, is still under active review by KeNHA, the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Directorate, and the National Treasury and Economic Planning, in full compliance with Kenya’s PPP Act.
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Further, Usahihi Expressway Limited maintained that KeNHA’s recent comments were technical clarifications, not a cancellation.
“Expansion of the existing highway is one component of the Usahihi Expressway plan, not a competing alternative. The Usahihi Expressway is designed as a comprehensive corridor solution, combining a new expressway with upgrades to sections of the current A8 road to improve safety, reduce travel time, and drive economic growth,” the company said.
“We’re moving forward, not backward. Stay tuned to our official channels for verified updates.”
KeNHA notice
In its notice on Tuesday, KeNHA noted that, following the evaluation of documents from the contracting authority and the submission of the report to the PPP Committee for approval by the National Treasury, the proposal was found not to meet the relevant criteria and should be abandoned.
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The committee further directed the contractor to consider restructuring the project by expanding the existing A8 highway.
“The PPP Committee, National Treasury & Economic Planning, delivered its decision during its 54th Ordinary PPP Committee meeting held on 2nd July, 2025 to the effect that the Committee determined that the proposal does not meet the relevant criteria and should be abandoned in accordance with Section 43(11)(c) of the PPP Act,2021; Directed that the Contracting Authority considers restructuring the Project to meet the evaluation criteria through expansion of the existing A8 highway,” read part of the notice.
“The proposal may then be resubmitted to the Committee for a fresh determination in line with Section 43(12) of the PPP Act, 2021.”
In 2022, KeNHA revealed that the proposed road is set to take a maximum of five years to complete.
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