The US company Bechtel was hired to build the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway, but the central government has now found a new company to do the job.
According to reports, the US company hired to construct the Ksh330 billion road and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had a falling out.
With KeNHA and the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development, and Public Works, the Korean company that took over the project, Korean Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation Africa (KIND), conducted a new feasibility assessment.
On Wednesday, June 29, it gave its conclusions, in-depth requirements, traffic estimates, and cost estimates for the project.
Therefore, it was given the responsibility of creating new plans for the direction and individual road segments, which KenHA would thereafter publicise.
The financing plan was not accepted by the Kenyan government or the US corporation. According to reports, the US wanted Kenya to get funding for the project via a loan or another firm.
Their choice ran counter to Kenya’s request that the US finance the project and reclaim the funds via a tolling mechanism.
Even in September 2016, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the development financing arm of the US Administration, received a letter of interest from Uhuru’s government.
The project was forced to stagnate for over five years due to the deadlock between the two nations.
The Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway’s proposed sections
As part of Kenya’s Vision 2030, the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway project was launched in September 2016. The start of construction was supposed to occur in 2018, but it was postponed and moved to 2019.
It meant adding two more lanes to the road next to the ones that were already there and fixing up the ones that were already there.
Three major parts were intended to make up the dual carriage.
One was a 174-kilometre route that would begin at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and conclude at Kibwezi in Makueni.
The last 160 kilometres between Voi and Mombasa, including the 132 kilometres between Kibwezi and Voi, would be covered by the third leg.
The Mombasa-Mariakani, Mariakani-Maji ya Chumvi, Bachuma Gate-Mtito Andei, Mtito Andei-Sultan Hamud, Sultan Hamud-Machakos, Machakos-Athi River, and JKIA-Athi River were among the 10 sections that were to be added.
Drivers were allowed to travel at speeds of up to 120 km/h.