Kenya is set to benefit from a $3.6 billion (Ksh470 billion) Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway project through a deal that was signed during President William Ruto’s State Visit to the United States.
American firm Everstrong Capital in a statement on May 23, 2024, confirmed that it will build the 440-kilometre expressway between Mombasa and Nairobi after the government signed a deal with a US firm yesterday.
The project, dubbed the Usahihi Expressway, is set to be undertaken after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) signed a project development agreement (PDA) with Everstrong Capital.
“His Excellency President William Ruto has declared the initiation of the Usahihi Nairobi to Mombasa Expressway, a new 4-6 lane dual carriage 440 km safe and efficient climate-sensitive road creating a wealth corridor between Kenya’s two largest cities,” said Everstrong in a statement.
The project which has been in the making for years has faced challenges which have resulted in its stall due to a mix of factors but now appears to be back on track following the signing of the deal.
Features of the Expressway
According to Everstrong Capital, the project will be undertaken through a public private partnership (PPP) model after it got approval from the National Treasury last year.
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The US firm is expected, together with its partners in a consortium, to design, source for funds and build the road due to the project being a PPP.
It will also operate the road for 30 years during which it will be charging motorists to use the road to recover funds used in construction and maintenance of the road.
“The construction of the Usahihi expressway poses no financial risks to the Kenyan government, as it is structured to operate independently from the Government of Kenya’s balance sheet and is projected to be financially self-sustaining,” said the firm in a statement.
Usahihi carriageway will be a 4 to 6 lane dual carriageway that is expected to reduce traffic congestion and reduce travel time between the two cities.
The expressway is expected to reduce travel time from the current average of 10.5 hours it takes to travel between Nairobi and Mombasa by road, to about four and a half hours.
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It will feature rest stops, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and wildlife observation points, with construction set to last for 3-4 years
The US firm also revealed that the expressway will feature strategically located overpasses based on animal migration patterns to facilitate wildlife migration.
According to Everstrong, Usahihi will pay for itself as it will organize finance, construction, tolling, operation, and maintenance of the expressway under a 30-year concession, in turn not burdening the Government of Kenya.
Ruto Welcomes Project
President Ruto after the signing welcomed the project saying that it embodies a commitment to transparency, hard work, and the empowerment of Kenyan citizens by engaging them as users, owners, and investors.
“More than just a road, the Usahihi Expressway sets a standard for transparent, sustainable, and community-centered development, fostering economic growth and environmental protection, serving as a global inspiration for ethical development,” said President Ruto.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also confirmed the project in a statement after holding a virtual meeting this afternoon with US Secretary for Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
Murkomen noted that the two leaders held discussions on several areas of cooperation, including road safety, mass rapid transport and aviation.
“We also discussed green transport in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and explored avenues for knowledge exchange and capacity building in the sector,” said Murkomen.
Kenya is also set to benefit after the United States committed to construct a 3km runway at Manda Airport in Lamu, in conjunction with Kenya Defense Forces (KDF).
These agreements were signed during President Ruto’s visit to the United States and are among a handful of deals that the Head of State and his delegation clinched with various US companies.
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