The Mombasa-Mtwapa road, a critical section of the 460-kilometre East African Coastal Corridor road project, is almost complete, the government has announced.
In a statement, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said the 13.5 km stretch, valued at Ksh7.5 billion, is 90 per cent complete, despite delays due to challenges that related to land acquisition and compensation, which threatened its progress.
The road is a crucial component of the 460km stretch that links Kenya and Tanzania, otherwise known as the Malindi-Bagamoyo highway. The multi-country highway stretches from Lunga Lunga in Kenya through Mombasa, Malindi and continues to Tanga via Bagamoyo in Tanzania.
The project is being financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the governments of Kenya and Tanzania and will cost a total of Ksh97.2 billion ($751 million). Additional support from the European Union also went into financing the project.
As for the Mombasa-Mtwapa road, once completed, the dual carriageway will comprise four-lane highways, service lanes, footbridges, grade-separated junctions, and a modern drainage system.
Mwaura noted that upon completion, the road would ease movement across Kengeleni, Nyali, Bamburi, and Mtwapa.
In addition to the 13.5km stretch, the project will also feature the Mtwapa-Kilifi road, that will be 40.4 kilometers.
Overall, the Malindi-Bagamoyo highway, whose idea was conceived ten years ago, is expected to facilitate cross-border trade, tourism and economic growth. It is also expected to improve transit between major coastal cities in Tanzania and Kenya, such as Lamu, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.
The project will also have benefits for landlocked countries such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, which depend on Mombasa and Dar es Salaam as gateways to global markets.
Construction works on the Kenyan side began in 2024, in line with AfDB’s expectations. Between 2025 and 2027, major construction works are expected to take place on both the Kenyan and Tanzanian sides.
Construction is expected to be done in a phased approach, with Kenya focusing on the Mombasa-Mtwapa and Mtwapa-Kilifi roads. In Tanzania, work done will mostly center on upgrading and expanding the stretch between Bagamoyo, Tanga, and Lunga Lunga, expected to mirror Kenya in scale, functionality, and timetable.
The corridor is projected to be substantially complete by 2028, enabling continuous four-lane driving from Lunga Lunga (Kenya–Tanzania border) through Mombasa, Malindi, Tanga, and Bagamoyo.
Finalization includes pavement, signage, border facilities, drainage, lighting, and roadside commercial infrastructure.
