The Nairobi-Mombasa Road Upgrade Project proposes upgrading approximately 451 km of the A8 highway between Mlolongo and Changamwe, connecting inland economic centres with the Port of Mombasa. The corridor is a critical route for domestic passenger travel, port-related freight and regional transit trade. The existing road is predominantly a two-lane single carriageway and faces growing traffic demand, congestion, unreliable journey times, pavement deterioration, road safety risks, and inadequate drainage and freight-support facilities. The preliminary scope proposes a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction, targeted rehabilitation and reconstruction of existing pavement, interchanges, service roads, drainage upgrades, bridges and culvert replacements, pedestrian facilities, solar-powered lighting, truck parking areas, and wildlife crossings. The project aims to improve transport capacity, road safety, reliability, and logistics efficiency while supporting trade, regional integration, and economic activity. The final scope, cost, and land requirements will be confirmed through detailed feasibility studies and design.
Project overview
Investment opportunity
The project offers a potential opportunity to participate in the upgrading of a nationally and regionally significant freight and passenger corridor linking Nairobi's hinterland with the Port of Mombasa. Improved capacity and journey-time reliability could support lower logistics costs, strengthen supply chain performance, and enable more efficient movement of goods and people. The preliminary assessment identifies tolling as a potential revenue mechanism. The final funding plan, tolling regime, risk allocation, procurement approach and role of private capital remain subject to detailed feasibility studies, financial modelling and government approvals. Depending on the selected structure, investors and lenders may be invited to support project financing, while strategic and technical partners may contribute design, construction, operations, maintenance and lifecycle performance expertise. The investment opportunity remains under development and should not be considered a confirmed bankable opportunity until the required studies are completed and a transaction structure is finalised.
Investment types sought
Project status
Development stage
Pre-feasibility
Current status / progress to date
A preliminary technical and commercial options assessment has been prepared using existing KeNHA, traffic, pavement condition and bridge management information. A pre-feasibility study has also been undertaken. Detailed feasibility studies, updated traffic and willingness-to-pay surveys, detailed design, financial modelling, and environmental and social assessments remain necessary to confirm bankability and implementation arrangements.
Additional project information
- Lead agency
- Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)
Expected impact
Jobs created / supported
Construction, operation and maintenance activities are expected to support employment in civil works, materials supply, transport, road safety, tolling, maintenance and related services. Quantified estimates of direct, indirect and induced jobs are yet to be established and should be developed during feasibility and economic assessment.
Economic & development benefits
- Increase transport capacity and improve service levels along a key national and regional trade corridor
- Improve freight and passenger journey-time reliability between inland markets and the Port of Mombasa
- Potentially reduce vehicle operating costs, delays and logistics costs
- Support domestic commerce, tourism, regional transit trade and economic activity across the five counties along the corridor
- Improve connectivity to towns, markets and services through interchanges, service roads and associated facilities
Climate & resilience benefits
- Proposed drainage-capacity improvements at identified flood-prone locations to reduce flooding and overtopping risks
- Solar-powered lighting at urban centres, interchanges and selected high-risk locations may reduce reliance on grid electricity
- Proposed wildlife crossings may help maintain ecological connectivity and reduce vehicle-wildlife conflict
- Climate classification and quantified emissions or resilience benefits to be established through formal climate screening and project assessments
Contact
Contact team
For more information about this project, please contact the Commonwealth Investment Platform team.