Nairobi Expressway Sets Benchmark for African Infrastructure Through PPP Success

Nairobi, Kenya – The Nairobi Expressway, a $668 million public-private partnership (PPP) project completed in 2022, has emerged as a flagship model for infrastructure development in Africa, offering valuable lessons for large-scale projects like the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor. Stretching 27 kilometers from Westlands to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the tolled expressway now serves approximately 50,000 vehicles daily, cutting travel times from two hours to just 20 minutes and easing Nairobi’s chronic traffic congestion. The project demonstrates how strategic PPP structuring, clear governance, and community engagement can transform urban mobility while attracting private investment.
The Nairobi Expressway operated under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model with a 27-year concession, blending 80 percent private capital from China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and 20 percent public funding from the Kenyan government. Additional support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) provided risk mitigation and advisory guidance. Key success factors included strong government commitment backed by Kenya’s PPP Act, clearly defined project scope, proactive stakeholder engagement through over 80 community forums, and robust risk-sharing mechanisms coveringople during construction, 40 percent of whom were locals retained for long-term employment.
construction, revenue, and political uncertainties. Technologies such as electronic toll collection reduced operational costs by 25 percent, while local capacity building created jobs for over 3,500 pe
The expressway’s success has broad implications for future African infrastructure. It not only boosts regional trade in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) targets but also provides a replicable model for projects struggling with funding, community opposition, or governance gaps. Stakeholders highlight that lessons such as clear project definition, strategic financing, early engagement, and leveraging digital tools are critical for sustainable PPPs. For LAPSSET and similar initiatives, adopting these practices could unlock private investment, reduce delays, and deliver long-term economic benefits while bridging Africa’s estimated $100 billion annual infrastructure gap.