KeNHA Responds to Reports on Opening of Nairobi Expressway

Aerial view of Nairobi Expressway running from Mlolongo to Westlands
Aerial view of Nairobi Expressway running from Mlolongo to Westlands
KeNHA

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has dismissed reports making rounds on social media, on the opening of the Nairobi Expressway to motorists.

Reports had claimed that test-runs on the country's most ambitious road project had commenced and that they were to continue for a number of days. The reports led to confusion as the government has maintained that the road would be officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Although the specific date on the official opening has not been given, the government had previously announced that the road would be usable by March .

According to KeNHA, the Nairobi Expressway - which is President Uhuru Kenyatta's legacy project - is nearing completion but has not been opened to public as the reports claimed. The authority added that test runs have also not commenced yet.

An ariel photo of the Nairobi Expressway
An aerial photo of the Nairobi Expressway.
Danito Kinyanjui

The government agency went ahead to note that once the construction is done, an official statement will be issued with instructions on the test run and the correct pricing model. The government has already allowed China Road and Bridge Construction (CRBC) to review the set base toll rates.

"As the contractor nears completion, and in preparation for the eventual opening of the road to the public, there will be guided trials to test the operations of the system that has been installed," KeNHA stated.

"Being a key road that is expected to decongest the city, the authority shall inform the public in advance but at an appropriate time on arrangements to open the road to the public," KeNHA added.

At the moment, the contractor is undertaking the beautification of the multibillion project, with the government noting that the toll stations are 99 per cent complete. Signposts to direct and guide motorists have also been erected on different parts of the road.

Some sections of Mombasa Road that had been affected by the ongoing construction have since been repaired with the remaining parts expected to undergo similar repairs by the time the Expressway is complete.

Details on how the motorists using the Expressway will make payments are yet to be made public as well as the amounts to be charged per distance covered.

Prior information indicated that motorists will pay a fee of between Ksh100 and Ksh1,550, depending on the size of the vehicle and the distance travelled.

Once complete, Nairobi Expressway, which runs from Mlolongo to Westlands covering a distance of 27 kilometres, will ease congestion in the city and reduce the amount of time spent on the road.

A file image of the Nairobi Expressway in Nairobi.
A file image of the Nairobi Expressway in Nairobi.
File