The implementation of the multi-million-dollar Mombasa-Kwa Jomvu road project has stalled due to major setbacks. These include land compensation delays and ongoing legal disputes as noted by the National Assembly Committee. During an inspection visit to Mombasa, the committee noted that two court cases and lack of funds are the main hurdles. Stretching a distance of 11.9 kilometers, the project is being jointly funded by the African Development Fund and the Government of Kenya. Furthermore, the committee noted that although construction is scheduled for completion by September 2025, there is much to do.
One of these is the compensation of evicted residents, which remains a major stumbling block. Members of Parliament were informed the issue was central to a petition submitted to Parliament by Jomvu MP Bady Twalib. Overseen by the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), the state-owned entity noted that resolution progress is being made. KeNHA’s representative, Eng. Henry Gakuru noted that a total of Ksh.5.3 billion had already been allocated for compensation.
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Scope of Implementation on the Mombasa-Kwa Jomvu Road Project
The implementation of the Mombasa-Kwa Jomvu road project is the first phase of the wider Mombasa-Mariakani road project. The aim of the project entails converting the predominantly two-lane road to a four and six lane dual carriageway. Within the Mombasa – Mariakani area, the road forms the main axis to Nairobi. Furthermore, it is part of the Northern Corridor, which links the port of Mombasa with various landlocked Eastern and Central African countries. These includes countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. Furthermore, the corridor also links the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Once completed, the upgraded road will benefit an average of 20,000 vehicles per day travelling through Mariakani. Moreover, the enhancement of the road will contribute to reducing emissions and the number of road accidents. The committee gave KeNHA three months to finalize the Mombasa-Kwa Jomvu road project.
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