Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway PPP Tender Set for April Completion

Treasury reports that the 461-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway has progressed further into the Public Private Partnership procurement stage, focusing now on selecting a transaction advisor and developing the complete project design framework. According to the PPP Directorate’s quarterly report for April, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) will oversee this major infrastructure initiative, which aims to convert the current A8 Mombasa-Nairobi highway into a modern, access-controlled toll expressway. The directorate announced that the transaction advisor procurement report will be officially issued on April 30, following its initial publication on March 10. This advisor will assist in refining feasibility studies, structuring finances, and preparing the comprehensive project package before investors are approached for the road connecting Mlolongo in Machakos County to Bonje in Mombasa County, based on previous KeNHA feasibility assessments. The expansion project aims to enhance traffic flow along the Northern Corridor. Additionally, the Ksh466.81 billion (USD3 billion) initiative will implement controlled access points and toll facilities designed to improve traffic circulation, alleviate congestion, and boost safety on one of Kenya’s most heavily traveled transport routes. As part of the Trans-African Highway’s Northern Corridor, the project will connect Nairobi and Mombasa while extending links to multiple East and Central African nations, establishing it as a vital trade and logistics pathway in the region. The PPP framework is currently being developed, with the project already designated as a priority under Kenya’s Medium-Term Plan IV. Authorities seek a cost-effective design concept based on appropriate engineering solutions. During construction, the government plans to minimize disruptions to local transportation networks and maintain smooth mobility, particularly for long-distance haulers traveling to key economic centers along the route. Separately, the government is concurrently progressing other significant infrastructure projects, such as the Mombasa Southern Bypass tolling system. Having completed its feasibility study, this initiative will advance to selecting a toll operator responsible for managing, maintaining, and installing toll collection systems. The Southern Bypass (Dogo Kundu Bypass) has substantially improved connections between the Northern Corridor and routes to Tanzania, while reducing strain on the Likoni ferry crossing.