JKIA Westlands expressway: An expressway that will link the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)– and James Gichuru Road in Westlands Nairobi was launched on october 16 2019 by president Uhuru Kenyatta.
When the expressway is completed in December 2021, Kenyans will be required to pay an average of Sh.155 in toll fees per day to use the road.
According to a news feature by Royal media Services’ Citizen, the cost to motorists will make for one of Kenya’s most expensive highways to date for the 27.2 kilometers stretch of tarmac.
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“In a prospectus presented to stakeholders on Wednesday, the Ministry of Transport has revised the cost of the freeway to Sh.62.2 billion ($599 million) from Sh.52.9 billion ($509.2 million) having incorporated an additional scope of works. Constructed via a private public partnership (PPP) between the government of Kenya and the China Road and Bridge Cooperation (CRBC), the highway will begin from the Mlolongo township and ends at the James Gichuru junction in Westlands,” says the report.
It further adds that:
“The first phase of the JKIA Westlands expressway will involve the construction of four lanes at ground level from Mlolongo to the Eastern Bypass junction (City-Cabanas) and covers 10 kilometers in total. The second stretch of tarmac will meanwhile incorporate six lanes at ground level to the Southern-Bypass Interchange (Ole-Sereni) extending the highway by a further five kilometers. The CRBC will additionally put up four lanes of elevated road through the City-Center and along Uhuru Highway to the James Gichuru junction to cover the last 11.2 kilometer stretch.
A total of 10 electronic toll plazas will be set up along the stretch of the highway besides the 10 entry and exit points to the express way. The charges levied on motorists make for the return of the long-forgotten toll system which serves to shoulder infrastructure costs borne by the State. The Government of Kenya (GOK) is expected to shoulder 25 percent of costs with the Chinese government providing for the majority chunk of capital expenditure.
Motorists will bear the cost of Ksh.46.7 billion in principal repayments to the Chinese over the 30 year concession period on the project which carries a three year grace period on repayments. Revenues generated from toll collections are expected to rise to Ksh.10.6 billion ($102.1 million) in 2049 from Ksh.2.1 billion in 2023.”