Joho said the announcement is expected to address longstanding challenges affecting motorists and long-distance truck drivers who rely on the busy transport corridor.
Speaking during an engagement with coastal media stations on Sunday, November 8, Joho indicated that the President was preparing a major intervention targeting difficulties experienced along the highway.
The Cabinet Secretary did not disclose the specific details of the announcement but described the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway as a major challenge for long-distance truck operators because of congestion and other transport difficulties.
The development comes days after Ruto signalled that his administration was working on plans to expand the highway into a dual carriageway.
Speaking at the Industrialisation Summit in Nairobi on November 4, the President said the government was negotiating arrangements to dual the road from Mombasa through Nairobi and towards Malaba.
Ruto said the government had a plan for the expansion and would explain the details soon, raising expectations that the project could move closer to implementation.
The Nairobi-Mombasa Highway is one of Kenya’s most important transport corridors, connecting the Port of Mombasa with Nairobi and facilitating the movement of cargo to different parts of the country and neighbouring states.
However, the two-lane highway has faced persistent traffic congestion, particularly involving heavy commercial trucks. The challenges have also raised concerns about road safety and increased the time and cost of transporting goods.
The proposed expansion is therefore expected to improve traffic flow, enhance road safety and reduce transportation costs if implemented.
The announcement also comes as the government continues with other major road projects, including the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway. Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir recently said sections of the road had received the initial asphalt layer, with motorists expected to begin using parts of the route before final works are completed.
Joho’s remarks have increased anticipation over what Ruto’s planned announcement will entail, particularly regarding the financing, construction timeline and scope of the proposed Nairobi-Mombasa Highway expansion.
Link; https://peopledaily.digital/news/joho-ruto-to-make-major-announcement-on-nairobi-mombasa-highway
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