This archive report was first published on 24 October 2019.
The Nairobi Expressway, a USD 599 million project, is set to transform the city's traffic landscape. The project, fully funded by the China Road and Bridges Corporation (CRBC), will be constructed at a cost of USD 599 million.
According to the government, the expressway will start at Mlolongo and head to JKIA, passing through James Gichuru. The project is expected to create jobs for over 3,000 people during construction and 500 during operation.
Government Spokesman Oguna defended the project, stating that the government has made deliberate efforts to minimize land acquisition. The preliminary land-take is approximately 35 acres, including 60 percent of public land and 40 percent of private property.
The Nairobi Expressway is expected to significantly decongest traffic in the Capital City and save the country millions of shillings per year. According to the Institute of Economic Affairs and World Bank, Kenya loses over Shillings 18 billion annually due to traffic congestion.
Published on October 24, 2019, the project has been met with concerns over the destruction of monumental Uhuru Park. However, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has stated that only a small portion of the land will be taken from the park, approximately 1.3 acres along Uhuru Highway.
The Nairobi Expressway is a Public Private Partnership project that will be tolled at a cost of Shs 11.24 per km. Benefits of the project include seamless flow of traffic, enhanced international trade along the Northern corridor, creation of jobs, boost of local manufactures, ease of access to JKIA, and less travel time.
