The Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) is building major highways in Mombasa and Kilifi counties, poised to enhance connectivity and boost trade.
The construction of the 30.4-kilometre Mombasa Port Access road project, which starts at the Kwa Jomvu interchange and goes up to the Mariakani weighbridge, is rapidly taking shape at 15 per cent. It will reduce travel time in the northern corridor.
The current two-way lane will be enhanced to a four-way dual carriageway, it will have climbing lanes and service lanes for access to residential areas and businesses.
The Sh.10.4 B project will also entail the improvement of grade intersections along the project road and the construction of Non-Motorized facilities, enhancement of the drainage, truck parking facilities and Weighbridges for Axle-load control in Mariakani.
The construction of the road has led to traffic snarl-up from Mariakani to Mazera, however, KeNHA Deputy Director of Communication Samwel Kumba says that enough Traffic Marshals have been deployed to guide the vehicular movements along the stretch.
“After 35 months the whole stretch would have been dual and would have mitigated all these traffic issues,” said Kumba during a tour of the projects.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2026. Land along the project area is expected to appreciate, access to social amenities.
“Most important is the reduction of travel time, there will no longer be snarl-ups and therefore evacuation of goods from Mombasa to the hinterland and beyond will be more efficient. There will be a lot of savings even in terms of the cost of doing business,” he stated.
He added that the project has not encountered any land compensation hurdles, however, they are waiting for the synchronization of ownership documents vis-à-vis people to be compensated which usually delays compensation, especially for lands that have to undergo succession or have changed ownership.
The Project’s Engineer Godwin Odhiambo further expounded that they have segmented the project into seven priority sections.
“According to the contractor’s program, we have started with the less risky areas where there are fewer people but very impactful.
Like now, we have done the first section which is the first priority that starts at Mariakani all the way up to the weighbridge now we are in the second priority which starts at Mazera all the way to Kibanda Hasara,” said Eng. Odhiambo.
KeNHA is in the process of compensating the third priority section which starts from Kwa Jomvu to Bonje.
Meanwhile, the construction of the Sh15B multinational Bagamoyo -Horohoro-Malindi Road project is also gathering pace in Mombasa and Kilfi counties.
The multinational project is being done in two sections transcending Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
Lot one is in Mombasa County and starts at the Nyali Bridge to the start of Mtwapa Bridge. It involves the construction of four dual carriageways with service lanes, six grade-separated junctions, six footbridges and non-motorized traffic facilities. It is currently at 31 per cent.
A 12 Kilometer trunk drainage will be constructed, the County Government of Mombasa will provide land for the expansion of the Kongowea market, 400 Indigenous trees will be planted along the road corridor, and roadside amenities will be set up at the Shimo la Tewa prison land.
Lot two is from Mtwapa-Kwa Kadzengo. It is 63 per cent done, it was expected to be completed in December but it has been pushed to March 2025 as a 3.5-kilometre stretch awaits the completion of the compensation process for the contractor to finalize works.
“Works on the carriageways are progressing well. As KeNHA we urge motorists to cooperate with Traffic Marshals in various areas where they are diversions the inconvenience is short-lived,” said KeNHA Deputy Director of Communication Kumba.
“Once works are done we will all reap the benefits. The whole project will reduce travel time tremendously between Kilifi and Mombasa,” he added.
The road infrastructure will also boost tourism in the Coast region as it will offer seamless connectivity from the North to the South Coast.
Suleiman Tuva, a Taxi Driver hailed the State for constructing roads that have significantly reduced travel time and cost of vehicle maintenance.
“The road from Mombasa to Kilifi was well constructed before it had potholes. The travel time has been reduced. Once the remaining sections are completed the time will reduce further,” he said.
Taxis used to take two hours but now they take one and a half hours to the Moi International Airport in Mombasa. Their clients used to miss flights as a result of the then deplorable road conditions. The government was urged to continue building roads to boost tourism.
By Sadik Hassan