Keypoints
- 43 per cent of Mombasa–Mtwapa stretch done
- Junction upgrades, footbridges and walkways added
- Land compensation delays but project on track
KENYA Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo has confirmed that work on Lot 1 of Phase 1, covering the 13.5 km stretch from Nyali Bridge to Mtwapa Bridge, is now 43 per cent complete. Begun in November 2022, this first lot forms part of the larger Kenya–Tanzania highway corridor connecting Mombasa through to the border via Kilifi.
Construction incorporates 2.5 km of dual carriageway, 1 km of service road, one box culvert, four overpass bridges, 4.3 km of trunk drains and 6 km of U-shaped drains. The scheme also includes six overpasses/footbridges, 27 km of pedestrian walkways, 24 km of service roads, street lighting and comprehensive drainage systems.
Upgrading junctions and regional integration goals
Managed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), infrastructure works include upgrades to critical junctions such as Bamburi, Links Road Junction, Bamburi Junction Bridge, and Kengeleni. Omollo emphasised the importance of the Multinational Bagamoyo–Tanga–Horohoro/Lunga‑Lunga–Malindi Road Project, describing it as ‘a transformative step towards deeper regional integration and infrastructure modernisation’ under the East African Community (EAC) framework.
Compensation delays slow progress, reforestation underway
The PS conceded that delays have stemmed chiefly from land compensation issues, but assured that the government is actively compensating affected individuals. A concurrent Baricho waterline relocation, replacing it with a larger-capacity pipeline, is also under way to ensure uninterrupted services.
Moreover, environmental measures include the restoration of 50 hectares at Rabai–Kaloleni forest and planting 400 trees along the highway corridor, aligning infrastructure development with ecological stewardship.
Job creation and tourism potential
Dr Omollo highlighted the broader socio‑economic benefits of the highway project. Already, hundreds of jobs have been created, while local traders and transporters report a surge in demand. The upgraded route is anticipated to boost tourism, open up business opportunities, and enhance economic integration between Kenya and Tanzania.
What lies ahead
Phase 1 Lot 2, spanning the section from Mtwapa-Bidge via Kwa Kadzengo to Kilifi, is currently under detailed design and expected to follow soon after Lot 1. When fully operational, the entire corridor – part of the Coastal East African Transnational Highway – will link Mombasa through Kilifi to the Tanzanian border, reinforcing regional trade and mobility.
