A road trip to Mombasa could soon cost as much as a flight, as plans for the Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway gain momentum with the promise to reduce the current 8-hour journey to just 4.5 hours.
The project, which is spearheaded by US-owned infrastructure firm Everstrong Capital, is on the brink of becoming a reality after a full feasibility study report was submitted. Construction is effectively set to kick off in 2026 once approved by the Treasury's Directorate of Public Private Partnerships, which is expected within the next two months.
Amid plans to establish an expressway linking Nairobi to Mombasa, Kenyans are already doing the math to determine whether using an expressway is practical, bearing the additional costs in mind.
Reports suggest that motorists will have to pay between Ksh12 and Ksh13 per kilometre to use the expressway. Taking into account that the full journey will be approximately a 459 kilometre trip, it translates to Ksh5,280 in toll fees.
This figure is not too hefty, especially considering the fact that the travel time will likely be slashed by more than half. However, it will not be the only cost a motorist will incur, as there are also other factors to consider, like fuel costs.
Based on the April fuel review by EPRA, super petrol is retailing at Ksh174.63 per litre, diesel at Ksh164.86, and kerosene at Ksh148.99.
This translates to 29–33 litres of fuel for a standard vehicle travelling the 459-kilometre distance from Nairobi to Mombasa, meaning it would cost between Ksh5,100 to Ksh6,000 for a petrol-powered car to get to Mombasa using the expressway. The figure could be slightly less for diesel vehicles.
All these costs considered, the total expense of a one-way trip from Nairobi to Mombasa via the expressway using a small sedan could cost approximately Ksh10,400 to Ksh11,000 for the average motorist.
Larger vehicles like SUVS, vans or minibuses, which typically consume more fuel, could see the figure rise well beyond Ksh13,000.
With all this in mind, it is kind to note that the figures are fairly relative, as there are other smaller nuances to consider, like a motorist's driving technique, the condition of the vehicle in use, weather conditions and so on.
Interestingly, this cost is nearly the same as that of a flight from Kenya's capital to the coast, as a spot check by Kenyans.co.ke revealed flights can be as cheap as Ksh8,300 to Ksh19,000 for a one-way ticket.
So, is using the expressway to Mombasa for the average Kenyan motorist worth it? While the answer to this question is subjective, there are several major perks which make the use of the expressway appealing.
For businesses which rely on fast delivery of goods and premium bus companies, this expressway could be a much-needed mechanism to save time and perhaps yield more profits, since a trip which would otherwise take half a day could soon take less than five hours.
