Highway expansion plans between Nairobi and Mombasa are being accelerated as the government moves to address growing safety concerns and improve transport along one of Kenya’s busiest trade corridors.
President William Ruto said on Wednesday that negotiations on the long-awaited dualling project were advancing and that the government would soon provide further details on how the expansion will be implemented.
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Highway forms part of wider road expansion
Speaking during the Industrialization Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Ruto said the government intends to expand the route as part of a broader plan covering key national transport corridors.
The President said the proposed dualling would eventually connect Mombasa through Nairobi, Mau Summit and onwards towards Malaba, creating a stronger road link between the coast and Kenya’s western border.
His administration is also targeting the dualling of about 2,500 kilometers of trunk roads across the country.
The government argues that the expanded network would ease the movement of people and cargo while supporting industries located outside major urban centers.
Project follows deadly road crashes
Pressure to upgrade the Nairobi-Mombasa route has increased following a series of fatal accidents along the highway.
A crash at Salama in Makueni County recently killed 17 pilgrims, prompting Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr to call for faster implementation of the project and additional road-safety measures.
Another major crash on October 25 claimed 22 lives, renewing concern over conditions on the heavily used road.
The current two-lane highway carries private vehicles, buses, matatus and large volumes of freight traffic between Nairobi and the Coast, increasing the risks associated with overtaking and congestion.
Financing talks underway
The Kenya National Highways Authority has also begun exploring financing options for the project.
KeNHA Director General Luka Kimeli held talks with a local financial institution on Tuesday over possible funding for the Nairobi-Mombasa expansion and other major infrastructure projects.
The proposed upgrade covers about 460 kilometers and would expand the existing road from two lanes to at least four.
Plans under consideration also include controlled entry and exit points and a tolling system for motorists.
Earlier estimates placed the cost of expanding the full corridor at about Ksh300 billion.
Previous financing proposal dropped
The government has been searching for a new financing model after an earlier proposal involving US-based Everstrong Capital failed to proceed.
The Public Private Partnership Committee rejected that proposal in 2025 after determining that it did not satisfy requirements under Kenya’s PPP framework.
Authorities have since been assessing alternative ways of financing and delivering the project, including private investment and domestic funding.
Technical assessments are also expected to examine traffic volumes, engineering requirements, environmental effects and the financial viability of the proposed highway.
Ruto links highway to trade expansion
Ruto said improving the road network would help unlock economic activity by making it easier to transport goods between the Port of Mombasa, Nairobi and inland regions.
He also announced that the government is preparing plans to expand the Port of Mombasa as part of efforts to strengthen Kenya’s role as a regional trade gateway.
The Nairobi-Mombasa Highway remains a critical route for cargo moving from the coast to Kenya and neighbouring countries.
While negotiations are progressing, the government has not yet announced a final construction start date or completion timetable for the full dualling project.
