Kenya has signed a Ksh477 billion ($3.6 billion) agreement with the United States to facilitate the completion of the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway, which is set to become Africa’s largest toll road. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) inked the deal with Everstrong Capital LLC. This agreement is part of several investments anticipated during discussions between US President Joe Biden and President William Ruto at the White House.
The expressway, named Usahihi, will feature four to six lanes and is expected to be completed within the next three to four years. According to the press release, Usahihi is designed as a Public-Private Partnership, ensuring that it will be self-sustaining through toll revenue and will not impose a financial burden on the Kenyan government. The project will manage the finance, construction, tolling, operation, and maintenance of the expressway under a 30-year concession.
The 440-kilometer (273-mile) expressway will link Nairobi, the capital, with the port city of Mombasa, a crucial gateway for several East African economies. This development is expected to cut the travel time between Nairobi and Mombasa to 4.5 hours, significantly down from the current approximate duration of 10.5 hours.
United States Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, expressed the U.S. Embassy’s approval of the signing, highlighting it as a significant advancement in the construction of the new highway.
Everstrong Capital, which is overseeing the expressway’s construction, has operations in both the United States and Kenya. The company has established the Everstrong Kenya Infrastructure Fund (EKIF), aimed at financing energy, transportation, communication, and social infrastructure projects across East Africa. This includes investments in Gulf Power’s Athi River Power project and a 25% stake in the Lake Turkana Wind Project through its founding sponsorship of Milele Energy.
The Usahihi Expressway is envisioned to set a benchmark for transparent, sustainable, and community-focused development, promoting economic growth and environmental protection. The project aims to inspire ethical development on a global scale.
KeNHA previously announced that the first phase of the expressway project, costing Ksh10 million, will commence during the 2026-2027 financial year. The second phase, projected at Ksh15 billion, will follow in the subsequent financial year.
