Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has threatened to sue an America Company and Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) for signing a contract to turn the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway into a private run toll road.
In a statement on June 2 the association said KeNHA made the decision without carrying out public participation.
“We are going to sue America company and KeNHA for signing a contract to turn Mombasa-Nairobi Highway into a Private run Toll Road without public participation,” the motorists said in a statement.
The association said KeNHA could have expanded the highway with more lanes rather than insisting on toll roads.
“We pay half the cost of fuel as tax, KeNHA is just not patriotic. They serve the interest of foreigners instead of Sovereign,” MAK stated.
Motorists on Toll Fees
MAK further said it is better to get simple loans than setting them to private companies who they claim exploit motorists through toll fees.
This statement comes barely a week after Kenya signed a Project Development Agreement (PDA) with US-based private equity firm Everstrong Capital LLC to build the long-delayed Mombasa-Nairobi Expressway, which has stalled since 2019 due to funding constraints.
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The deal signed in Washington DC on May 23 between Everstrong and KeNHA, gives equity firm and its partners full development rights for what is said to be “Africa’s largest toll road project”.
Details of the Usahihi Expressway
The 440km Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway, which has been renamed Usahihi Expressway, is expected to cost $3.6 billion (Ksh 470,000,000,000).
“The project anticipates attracting investments totaling $3.6 billion, sourced from international investors, development agencies, pension funds and an exceptionally large number of Kenyan private investors,” Everstrong said in its statement.
According to Everstrong Capital, the expressway is structured as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with revenue coming from road users.
Furthermore, the high-speed road is expected to have 4-6 dual carriage lanes.
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Usahihi is expected to organize finance, construction, tolling, operation, and maintenance of the expressway under a 30-year concession with construction lasting 3-4 years.
Everstrong Capital further said a significant part of the Ksh 470 billion investment will come from American development finance institutions, with additional investments coming from Kenyan private sector investors and pension funds.
According to the company, construction of the road is scheduled to start in March 2025.
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