Lobby Group Mounts Pressure on Govt Over Nairobi Expressway Deal

Photo Collage of the Nairobi Expressway running from Mlolongo to Westlands
Photo Collage of the Nairobi Expressway running from Mlolongo to Westlands
Moja Expressway

The Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has petitioned the government to make public the Ksh89 billion Nairobi Expressway deal.

COFEK in a petition dated Wednesday, April 27, wants the Ministry of Transport to explain to the public the criteria used in arriving at the toll charges that were recently revised upwards.

Besides the formular on toll charges, COFEK - through its Secretary General, Stephen Mutoro - want the Ministry of Transport, headed by Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, to explain how the Nairobi Expressway was developed, detailing whether it was through a loan, grants public-private partnership, lease, government financing, or whatever arrangement. 

Nairobi Expressway project near Chiromo road interchange
Nairobi Expressway project near Chiromo Road interchange
Moja Expressway

In the petition, COFEK also wants the Ministry to explain issues touching on the repairs of Mombasa Road and the maintenance of the same, arguing that it has been greatly affected by the construction of the Expressway.

The lobby group is seeking answers whether the 27-kilometer road was designed to reduce the pre-existing three-lane Mombasa Road into two.

The issue of drainage has also been highlighted with COFEK arguing that unless rectified, it will likely lead to clogging up of the already strained drainage system which in turn will lead to huge traffic snarl ups.

COFEK also wants the government to come clean on whether there is a hidden motive behind forcing motorists to pay for the road by reducing lanes on Mombasa Road.

The petition by COFEK comes one week after the Ministry of Transport gazetted the hiked toll charges for motorists using Nairobi Expressway citing the weakening shilling against the dollar.

"In Exercise of the powers conferred by section 4B (3) of the Public Roads Toll Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works approves the toll rates for Nairobi Express Way as set out in the Schedule hereto," the Kenya Gazette notice signed by CS Macharia stated.

According to the notice, to commute from the Nairobi East (Mlolongo) section of the Nairobi Expressway to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) motorists will be charged Ksh180 and not Ksh120 as earlier announced. The same amount will apply to those exiting Nairobi Expressway at the Eastern Bypass.

From Mlolongo to Southern Bypass and Capital Center, motorists will be charged a flat rate of Ksh240. To Museum Hill motorists will be charged Ksh300 and Ksh360 up to the James Gichuru Road intersection.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) recently issued another statement assuring the public that Mombasa Road will be rehabilitated before the official commissioning of the expressway.