Nairobi Expressway
Kenya's first urban toll expressway, cutting through Nairobi's notorious traffic in minutes instead of hours.
The Nairobi Expressway is a 27.1 km elevated toll highway running from Mlolongo (near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) to Westlands in Nairobi. Built by China Road and Bridge Corporation under a Public-Private Partnership with the Kenyan government at a cost of approximately $668 million, the expressway was opened to traffic in July 2022. It features 10 interchanges and uses electronic toll collection, reducing travel time on the corridor from up to 2 hours during peak times to approximately 20 minutes. It is operated under a 30-year concession by Moja Expressway.
- 01Alleviate chronic traffic congestion on Nairobi's Mombasa Road and Uhuru Highway corridor
- 02Reduce commute times from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Westlands business district
- 03Introduce Kenya's first electronic toll road infrastructure
- 04Demonstrate the viability of PPP models for transport infrastructure in East Africa
- 05Reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions from idling in traffic
- 06Provide reliable journey times for airport passengers and freight
2019 · completed
PPP Agreement Signed
Kenya signed a PPP concession agreement with China Road and Bridge Corporation for a 30-year Build-Operate-Transfer arrangement.
2020 · completed
Construction Begins
Major construction commenced with pile driving and foundation work along the Mombasa Road corridor.
2022-05 · completed
Partial Opening
The first sections of the expressway were opened to traffic ahead of the full launch.
2022-07 · completed
Full Opening
The complete 27.1 km expressway was opened to public traffic with electronic toll collection activated.
2023 · completed
Operations Ramp-Up
Daily traffic volumes increased steadily as Nairobi commuters adopted the toll route to avoid congestion.
2024 · completed
Moja Expressway Operations
Moja Expressway Company Limited continued operations with adjusted toll rates and growing daily usage exceeding 40,000 vehicles.
Developer/Constructor
China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC)
Built the expressway and holds the concession through its subsidiary Moja Expressway Company.
Government Partner
Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)
The national roads authority that manages the PPP agreement on behalf of the Kenyan government.
Operator
Moja Expressway Company
CRBC subsidiary that operates the expressway and collects tolls under the 30-year concession.
Financing
Private Financing (CRBC)
The project was financed entirely by CRBC under the PPP model, with no Kenyan government debt.
- Elevated highway construction (viaduct design)
- Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) with automated number plate recognition
- 10 grade-separated interchanges
- Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) for traffic monitoring
- Pre-stressed concrete box girder construction
- LED highway lighting and safety systems
What it means for the community
The expressway has transformed mobility in Nairobi, with over 40,000 vehicles using it daily and commute times on the corridor reduced by up to 80%. The project was built without adding to Kenya's public debt through the PPP structure. It has improved access to JKIA, supporting tourism and business travel, and has inspired plans for additional toll road projects in Nairobi and other Kenyan cities.
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- Government of Kenya
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