Ruto Government Seeks Private Investors for Nairobi-Mombasa Expansion

The government is reviving plans to transform the 461-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa highway into a tolled dual carriageway through a public-private partnership (PPP). 

The move comes amid growing pressure from transport stakeholders following a series of fatal crashes on the busy transport corridor. The decision is outlined in the Draft 2027 Budget Policy Statement (BPS), which details President William Ruto’s strategy to use private financing for major national highways due to public budget constraints. 

Under the draft policy, the government will transition to PPPs for both the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway and the Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba Highway.

The project marks a significant shift in strategy following the cancellation of a previous proposal. In December 2023, the government gave conditional approval to US investor Everstrong Capital Kenya for a Sh468 billion greenfield expressway running from Mlolongo to Bonje. 

However, the National Treasury’s PPP Committee rejected the "Usahihi Express" proposal on July 2, 2025, finding that it failed to meet the criteria set out in the PPP Act, 2021.

Following the rejection, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) directed that the initiative be restructured around the existing infrastructure. According to the Treasury’s PPP Directorate, the revised plan will upgrade the current two-lane A8 highway into an access-controlled, tolled road with at least four lanes. The design aims to expand capacity while minimising disruption to local traffic and community connectivity.

As of September 30, 2026, the highway expansion remains listed as a priority project under Kenya’s Fourth Medium-Term Plan. The Treasury confirmed that the procurement of a transaction adviser is underway, following a fresh expression of interest issued on August 11, 2026. Bid evaluation is ongoing to select an adviser who will structure the deal and assess its technical and financial viability before a private investor is chosen.

The draft BPS has not disclosed the expected project cost, the length of the concession period, or the proposed toll rates for motorists. Beyond this project, the government’s medium-term road agenda includes constructing 4,080 kilometres of new roads, building 54 bridges, rehabilitating 293 kilometres, and maintaining 121,229 kilometres of existing network.

The project is part of a broader infrastructure plan that includes completing Berth 1 at Dongo Kundu and Berth 19B, rehabilitating the Voi-Taveta railway line, and bringing Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phases 2B and 2C to 50 per cent completion. The state also intends to leverage private capital and logistics technologies to expand container terminals, cargo berths, inland container depots, and Special Economic Zones in Mombasa, Lamu, Nairobi, and Naivasha.

The urgency of the project has been heightened by recent fatal accidents on the corridor, which forms a key part of the Northern Corridor linking the Port of Mombasa to Eastern and Central Africa. On Sunday, October 25, 2026, a crash at Kanga, near Mtito Andei, claimed 24 lives. Preliminary investigations showed the crash was caused by dangerous overtaking. The incident occurred three weeks after another collision at Salama on October 3 left 17 people dead.

Responding to the Sunday tragedy, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced immediate measures to curb carnage on the highway. Speaking after the incident, Chirchir said the ministry will focus on structured funding to strengthen its black spot management programme, targeting high-risk sections with engineering solutions.

Chirchir also directed the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the police to step up enforcement against speeding, reckless overtaking, and other traffic violations. The ministry is working with Parliament, the Senate, and the Judiciary to address implementation hurdles surrounding the Commercial Vehicle Regulations 2026, Vehicle Inspection Regulations 2026, and School Transport Regulations 2026 to improve driver discipline and vehicle roadworthiness.

Following the latest crash, NTSA and the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) called on the government to declare road accidents a national disaster and expedite the dualing of the corridor, arguing that mixing heavy freight, buses, and private vehicles on the single carriageway creates constant hazards for road users.