Private funded Mombasa-Nairobi expressway set to cut travel time by more than half
The announcement was made by Kyle McCarter, former United States Ambassador to Kenya and chairman of the project developer, who said the final phase of fundraising is underway.
Construction of the Sh455 billion Mombasa-Nairobi Expressway is expected to start early next year, as Usahihi Expressway Limited moves closer to realizing the ambitious road project.
The announcement was made by Kyle McCarter, former United States Ambassador to Kenya and chairman of the project developer, who said the final phase of fundraising is underway.
Everstrong Capital, a US-based sponsor of the expressway, is currently raising the remaining funds required to complete the 444-kilometre highway.
McCarter said the fundraising phase is expected to end by December, paving the way for the actual civil works to begin in the first quarter of next year.
"The construction of the Usahihi Mombasa-Nairobi Expressway will take anywhere between three to four years to complete. We will have five contractors that will be doing the construction of the road all at once so that we can get this done as soon as possible for people to enjoy the road," said McCarter during a meeting with senior officials from Makueni County.
Out of the total project cost of Sh455 billion, about Sh129 billion will be spent on acquiring land for the expressway.
The private developers have assured that no money from Kenyan taxpayers will be used for the project.
Instead, the developers will recoup their investment over 30 years by charging toll fees before handing the road over to the government.
The expressway, which will be one of the largest toll roads in Africa, is expected to reduce the journey time from Mombasa to Nairobi from 10 hours to just four hours.
Additionally, it will cut fuel consumption costs by approximately 30 per cent for travelers using the route.
Besides being a four-lane dual carriageway, the road will feature 12 highway exits that connect to existing townships and key facilities along the corridor.
The plan also includes eight rest areas and three wildlife crossings designed to protect animals and avoid disruption to their habitats.
McCarter noted that Everstrong Capital has started engaging stakeholders along the route, with Makueni County being the first to host such a meeting because it has the longest section of the highway.
The project developer submitted the feasibility study report to the National Environmental Management Authority earlier this month and is now seeking final approval from the Public-Private Partnerships unit at the National Treasury.
This new expressway is expected to create significant benefits for Kenya’s transport infrastructure and ease pressure on the existing Mombasa-Nairobi highway, which is one of the busiest routes in the country.
