The government of Kenya has been issued a directive to suspend the ambitious plans for the Ksh468 billion Nairobi–Mombasa Usahihi Expressway project. The National Treasury’s Project Progress and Status Report dated July 5, 2025, outlines that the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Committee rejected the road project estimated to cost Ksh468 billion
Usahihi Expressway project is under the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). The ambitious highway project entails the construction of a 419km, 4-lane Nairobi- Mombasa Expressway as a greenfield project.
Project Factsheet
Project name: Usahihi Expressway. It is also referred to as the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway
Developer: Usahihi Expressway Limited, backed by US-based Everstrong Capital
Length: Approximately 440 kilometers
Cost: Ksh468 billion ($3.6 billion)
Funding model: Public-Private Partnership (PPP) under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement.
Also read: Usahihi Expressway Construction to Commence Next Year, Africa’s Largest Toll Road Project
Approval of the Project’s Proposal
The highway project proposal was approved in December 2023. This allowed the project to progress to Project Development/Feasibility Study.
Furthermore, the Project Development Report (PDR) was finalised and submitted for approval.
However, the PPP Committee declared that the PDR was unable to meet the required standards that are outlined under the PPP Act.
Therefore, it recommended that the ambitious highway project to be abandoned. However, the project may be revised and resubmitted for fresh consideration under the same law.
“On the 2nd July 2025, it was declared that the PDR did not meet the required criteria and should therefore be abandoned in accordance with Section 43(11) (c) of the PPP Act. The proposal may however, be resubmitted to the Committee for a fresh determination in line with Section 43 (12) of the PPP Act, 2021,” reads part of the National Treasury report.
The Proposed Three Main Sections on the Highway
The planned dual carriage highway was planned to be divided into a total of three main sections.
The first section of the highway was to run from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi all the way to Kibwezi in Makueni. This highway section would stretch up to 174 kilometres.
Additionally, as for the other section, it would span a distance of 132 kilometres between. This section would link Kibwezi to Voi. Lastly, the third section of the highway would cover the last 160 kilometres linking Voi to Mombasa.
Other Sections
Additionally, the highway was to be subdivided into ten sections. This sections include Mombasa-Mariakani, Mariakani-Maji ya Chumvi, Maji ya Chumvi-Bachuma Gate, Bachuma Gate-Mtito Andei, Mtito Andei-Sultan Hamud, Sultan Hamud-Machakos, Machakos-Athi River, and Athi River-JKIA.
Expected Start Date
The Usahihi Expressway project was to commence construction in early 2026. It would be built for a period of approximately years.
Lastly, the Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway project was stalled in the year 2022. This was when Bechtel withdrew from the project over disagreements regarding the financing model.
