For nearly a decade, the proposed Nairobi Mombasa Usahihi Expressway Project has been one of Kenya’s most ambitious yet elusive infrastructure projects. First unveiled in 2017 with the promise of cutting travel time between the capital and the coast from more than ten hours to under four, the 440–470 km toll road has moved through phases of excitement, controversy, and uncertainty. From the initial award to U.S. contractor Bechtel, to stalled negotiations over funding, to its revival in 2024 under a $3.6 billion public-private partnership with Everstrong Capital, the project has repeatedly captured headlines. Now, in 2025, it finds itself at another crossroads as government officials signal a shift away from the expressway plan in favor of upgrading the existing Nairobi–Mombasa highway, even as investors insist the deal is still alive.
A chronological list of events to date on the Nairobi Mombasa Usahihi Expressway Project
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Sep 2017 — Bechtel selected (EPC model). Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) picked Bechtel to design and build a 473-km high-speed expressway between Nairobi and Mombasa; early materials touted sub-4-hour travel time. It was touted then that the state-of-the art expressway would include 76 overpasses, 21 underpasses, 189 culverts and 20 interchanges. It would reduce the traveling duration in between the two cities to 3 and a half hours, plus the travelers will pass through 22 major towns which include: Emali, Mtito Andei, Voi, Mariakani among others; before reaching their destination.
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2018–2021 — Funding model pushback and stall. As costs and debt implications were debated, Treasury resistance to an EPC/publicly funded approach led to delays and reconsideration of a PPP/tolled model. A public-private partnership had been deemed efficient for the funding of the project. According to a report that was released by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) in the year 2021, Bechtel turned down the offer that required the firm to build the road and recover the construction costs later by charging toll fees to the motorists using the road. This led to a fall out with Bechtel who said that the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model would inflate the cost of the project to approximately Sh1.5 trillion.
- 2022 – The contract for the construction of the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway in Kenya has been awarded to Korean Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation Africa (KIND). KIND was hired by the East African country to build the 473-km expressway after US contractor Bechtel Corp pulled out of the project. Nothing more was heard about the Koreans.
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May 23, 2024 — PPP revival with Everstrong Capital. KeNHA and U.S. investment manager Everstrong Capital announced a $3.6 billion PPP deal to deliver the 440 km tolled highway, aligning with President Ruto’s U.S. state visit. The U.S.-based infrastructure investment manager Everstrong Capital signed a project development agreement with the Kenyan government for the planned $3.6-billion Usahihi Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway project.
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FEb 2025 — Everstrong Capital it was reported had commenced searching Funds for Usahihi Expressway. It would be a $3.5 billion initiative and the company had kicked off a race to raise funds from local pension funds.
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August 2025 — Kenya’s treasury decided to pull the plug on the $36 billion Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway project. It issued a notice to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to expand the existing highway.
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August 2025 —The public-private partnership (PPP) committee directed KeNHA to restructure the project into an expansion of the existing A8 highway. Once done, they are expected to resubmit for evaluation in line with Section 43(12) of the PPP Act, 2021.
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Aug 2025 — Conflicting statements from stakeholders. Everstrong Capital, said that it had submitted an updated feasibility study report which is in response to the feedback from the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Committee for the construction of the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway Construction.
The fate of the Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway now hangs in the balance, caught between shifting government priorities and private sector determination to keep the vision alive. What began as a flagship mega-project promising to redefine transport between Kenya’s capital and its main port city has instead become a case study in the complexities of financing, politics, and long-term planning. Whether the country ultimately builds a new expressway or opts to expand the existing highway, the debate underscores one central truth: Kenya’s busiest transport corridor remains in urgent need of modern, reliable infrastructure to match its role as the backbone of regional trade and economic growth.
