This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
Published on November 2, 2019, the US Government has dismissed concerns that the proposed Sh300 billion Nairobi-Mombasa expressway project would saddle Kenya with unsustainable debt.
US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter made the assurance in a statement on Friday, November 1, 2019, saying the project would be an investment for Kenya.
McCarter indicated that the US Government remains committed to fulfilling President Trump's pledge to make the state-of-the-art highway a reality, citing the benefits of partnering with a US company.
“This project by a world-class U.S. company will provide the best engineered solutions for Kenya’s infrastructure needs at a lower price than competitors and for far better value,” McCarter said.
He also highlighted the anti-corruption benefits of doing business with a US company, citing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Kenya's public debt has raised concerns about the country's ability to afford the expressway project, with the total public debt recently crossing the Sh6 trillion mark and the debt-to-GDP ratio standing at 63 percent.
