The government has held fresh talks with the World Bank and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) as preparations for the proposed Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway gather pace, with discussions focusing on the project's scope and the technical studies required before implementation.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The meeting, chaired by Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Director General Kefa Seda on Tuesday, August 21, brought together officials from the World Bank and KeNHA to align the design and planning process for what is expected to become one of Kenya's largest transport infrastructure projects.

According to the PPP Directorate, the discussions centred on aligning the scope of the proposed expressway and the technical studies that will guide its preparation, laying the groundwork for a modern, efficient and sustainable transport corridor.

"I was pleased to welcome delegations from the World Bank and the Kenya National Highways Authority for discussions on the proposed Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway. Our engagement focused on aligning the project's scope and the technical studies that will guide its preparation, laying a strong foundation for a modern, efficient and sustainable transport corridor," Seda said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The technical studies are expected to determine key aspects of the project, including engineering requirements and traffic demand .

They will also determine environmental considerations, financial viability and the most suitable delivery model before construction can commence.

The latest engagement comes weeks after the government formally abandoned plans to construct a completely new Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway proposed by U.S. infrastructure firm Everstrong Capital and instead resolved to expand the existing highway.

In a Treasury project status report released in July, the government confirmed that the KeNHA would increase the capacity of the current 461-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa highway to four lanes and convert it into an access-controlled tolled road.

The revised approach marked a significant departure from Everstrong Capital's proposal, which had sought to build a separate 440-kilometre expressway at an estimated cost of Ksh365 billion under the Privately Initiated Proposal framework.

According to the Treasury, the proposal was rejected after failing to meet the evaluation requirements under the Public Private Partnership Act, 2021, prompting the government to instead prioritise upgrading the existing road corridor.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke