As of December 2025, Kenya is rewriting the map of East African trade with a major upgrade to its Mombasa-Nairobi corridor. Once a single-lane artery, the highway is being expanded into a modern four-to-six-lane route through a public-private partnership (PPP) backed by the Chinese mainland.
Why This Highway Matters
Nearly 40% of Kenya’s trade traffic uses this corridor, connecting the port of Mombasa to Uganda and other inland nations. Francis Mtalaki, a senior coast region reporter, explains: “President Ruto and his administration have taken a very decisive step. This highway is key in reshaping the country's economic landscape and strengthening Kenya's position as the regional trade hub.”
The PPP Advantage
Moving to a PPP framework marks a new chapter in China-Africa cooperation. Professor Zhu Yaxiong of Zhejiang Normal University highlights the benefits: “The public-private partnership will ease the burden of financing such a big project. This also demonstrates the Chinese mainland’s growing maturity in large-scale infrastructure financing.” By sharing risks, private partners drive cost control and quality, while the government focuses on regulation and oversight.
Trading at the Speed of Light
When complete, the upgraded highway will link seamlessly with the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), creating a powerful intermodal corridor. Mtalaki notes: “Trade between Kenya and Uganda exceeds $1 billion. This road will deliver goods in a quicker, safer way.” Cities like Nakuru stand to benefit from increased tourism, real estate growth, and a boom in agro-processing and textiles.
Belt and Road in Action
Professor Zhu frames the project within the Belt and Road Initiative’s high-quality goals:
- Spurring economic growth
- Fostering skills transfer and self-reliance
- Aligning with sustainable development principles and Kenya’s Vision 2030
“The most obvious thing here is connectivity. The Chinese mainland enjoys strong expertise in delivering quality infrastructure,” he says. Francis Mtalaki adds: “This is one of the examples that can be seen to be successful. Our expectation is that this will be another successful project.”
As the Mombasa-Nairobi upgrade races toward completion, it promises to be a blueprint for future projects across Africa, where connectivity drives truly inclusive and sustainable growth.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
