Kipchumba Murkomen: Nairobi Expressway Has Employed Over 6,000 Kenyans, Similar Projects Underway

• Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen has hailed Nairobi Expressway for its economic viability in the country
• The CS noted that the multi-billion-shilling project has indirectly and directly employed over 6,000 Kenyans and paved way for similar projects in the country
• Murkomen said this while inspecting the ongoing construction of the new Expressway Exit Plaza at Greepark terminal in Nairobi

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Nairobi Expressway has indirectly and directly employed more than 6,000 Kenyans since its construction.

Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen said the multi-million project has 500 Kenyans employed on permanent terms.

Nairobi Expressway still under construction

Speaking during the inspection of the ongoing construction of the new Nairobi Expressway Exit Plaza at Greenpark terminal on Wednesday, December 20, Murkomen said the exit will have five toll lanes.

"The Expressway has reduced travel time from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Nairobi from two hours to 20 minutes at no cost to taxpayers. It has also become a major job creator, employing 6,000 Kenyans during its construction and now offering 500 permanent jobs," said Murkomen.

Murkomen noted that the project is expected to be completed in mid-January 2024 and will reduce traffic congestion in the Nairobi CBD.

The CS revealed plans to add two more lanes from the current three at the Museum Hill Exit.

"The Nairobi Expressway is a shining monument to what Private-Public Partnerships can do," he said.

Is the Nairobi Expressway beneficial?

The Nairobi Expressway has served over 26 million vehicles and brought the county many socioeconomic benefits.

The world-class highway facilitated the transfer of its smart traffic monitoring technology, with a 360-degree view of the whole road.

Murkomen added that it provides a good benchmark for the Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) that we have been piloting and is now ready to be rolled out.

"Thanks to the success of the Expressway, we are now receiving increasing demand for similar projects. We are therefore considering the dualling of the Rironi-Mau Summit road expected to begin in the next year." he added.

Other projects under construction plans include the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and Athi River-Namanga highways, Kisumu-Isibania and Kiambu Road.

Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway

This followed the National Treasury's proposals for the construction of the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway, spanning 473 kilometres.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) clarified that the tender for the construction of the road was yet to be awarded.

Among the companies that expressed interest were Korean Overseas Infrastructure and Development Corporation and American firm Bechtel.