Government Fast-Tracks Nairobi-Mombasa Highway Dualling Plans

President William Ruto has confirmed that the administration is accelerating negotiations to widen the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway into a dual carriageway amid mounting demands for critical safety upgrades along the heavily traveled corridor. Addressing the Industrialisation Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Ruto stated that the administration has formulated a strategy to expand the highway and will disclose project specifics shortly. Discussions are actively underway to dual the entire stretch from Mombasa to Malaba, ensuring the initiative will be executed as planned. Ruto revealed that the administration additionally intends to convert 2,500 kilometers of main arterial roads nationwide into dual carriageways to enhance transportation efficiency and connectivity. Upgrading the infrastructure from Mombasa through Nairobi, Mau Summit, Malaba, and Kisumu aims to unlock regional economic potential. The President emphasized that these transport enhancements will facilitate inland development and bolster industrial expansion by streamlining the transit of freight and commuters. Furthermore, Ruto disclosed that preparations are nearly complete to reveal comprehensive strategies for scaling up the capacity of the Port of Mombasa. This push for highway reconstruction follows persistent appeals for enhanced road safety after a string of tragic collisions, notably a crash in Salama, Makueni County, which resulted in the deaths of 17 pilgrims. Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. had previously pressed the administration to fast-track the highway’s expansion, urging the Kenya National Highways Authority to deploy stringent safety interventions at Salama comparable to those established at Salgaa and Nithi Bridge. The Motorists Association of Kenya similarly demanded expedited action on the infrastructure project following another fatal collision that claimed 22 lives, criticizing officials for delayed responses to critical safety hazards. Ruto’s declaration follows a meeting between Kenya National Highways Authority Director General Luka Kimeli and financial sector representatives regarding potential funding mechanisms for the highway upgrade and related large-scale transport works. These recent engagements build upon an earlier initiative by the National Treasury to engage consultants for comprehensive evaluations encompassing engineering specifications, traffic density projections, environmental and social consequences, and financial estimates, with the proposed transformation converting the current single-carriageway road into a four-lane highway.