The government has been directed to suspend plans for the Ksh468 billion Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway project. The National Treasury’s Project Progress and Status Report dated July 5, 2025, indicates that the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Committee rejected the road project estimated to cost Ksh468 billion
Usahihi Express project under the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the project covers the construction of a 419km, 4-lane Nairobi- Mombasa Expressway as a greenfield project.
The project proposal was approved in December 2023 for the project to progress to Project Development/Feasibility Study.
Subsequently, the Project Development Report (PDR) was finalised and submitted for approval.
However, the PPP Committee determined that the PDR failed to meet the required standards outlined under the PPP Act.
As a result, it recommended that the project be abandoned, though it may be revised and resubmitted for fresh consideration under the same law.
“On 2nd July 2025, it was determined that the PDR did not meet the relevant criteria and should be abandoned in accordance with Section 43(11) (c) of the PPP Act. The proposal may however, be resubmitted to the Committee for a fresh determination in line with Section 43 (12) of the PPP Act, 2021,” reads part of the National Treasury report.
Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway Project
The Nairobi- Mombasa Expressway project was initiated in September 2016 as part of Kenya’s Vision 2030.
The groundbreaking was slated to start in 2018 but was pushed to 2019.
Usahihi project aimed at repairing the current lanes and constructing two additional lanes alongside the existing highway.
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Divisions and Sections
The planned dual carriage was supposed to be divided into three main sections.
The first section was to start at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and end at Kibwezi in Makueni, stretching 174 kilometres.
Another section was to run 132 kilometres between Kibwezi and Voi, while the third section covered the last 160 kilometres between Voi and Mombasa.
Additionally, the highway was to be subdivided into ten sections, including Mombasa-Mariakani, Mariakani-Maji ya Chumvi, Maji ya Chumvi-Bachuma Gate, Bachuma Gate-Mtito Andei, Mtito Andei-Sultan Hamud, Sultan Hamud-Machakos, Machakos-Athi River, and Athi River-JKIA.
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Construction and Timing
The project was to start construction in early 2026 and run for around 5 years.
Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway project was stalled in 2022 when Bechtel withdrew over disagreements regarding the financing model.
Motorists were set to drive at speeds of up to 120km/h, and it was projected to reduce travel time from 10 hours to approximately 5 hours.
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