The government has moved to unblock Sh175 billion to jumpstart road construction along critical highways in the Coast region, ending months of delays caused by unpaid contractors and unresolved compensation claims.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the outstanding bills had stalled work and increased project expenses, slowing down progress on key transport corridors.
The funds were accessed through the securitisation of the Road Maintenance Levy, a mechanism that allows the government to draw money against future levy collections.
“We have just rolled out pending bills of Sh175 billion. This will have an immediate impact on the construction sector as stalled projects resume. Where there were compensation issues, such as in Mazeras, Kanamai and Bombolulu, they have been resolved,” Chirchir said while inspecting ongoing projects in Mombasa.
He added that clearing the arrears would enable contractors to return to sites, re-engage retrenched staff, and streamline project execution.
Work on the Mombasa-Mariakani highway, which is being widened into a six-lane road, will benefit directly from the funding. The expansion includes flyovers, bus bays, service lanes, truck parking spaces, pedestrian bridges, walkways, street lighting, and other infrastructure to improve traffic flow.
The Jomvu-Mariakani section, stretching 41.7 kilometres, is now three-quarters finished. It forms part of a Sh22 billion initiative co-funded by the African Development Bank (42.2 per cent), German Development Bank KfW (22.2 per cent), European Investment Bank (22.2 per cent), Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (8.9 per cent), and the government (4.5 per cent).
A bottleneck at the Jomvu-Mazeras five-kilometre stretch has long caused heavy delays, with trucks and other vehicles stuck for up to two hours.
The highway is a crucial segment of the Northern Corridor, linking the Port of Mombasa to Nairobi and onward to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Truck operators, who previously benefited from the 2019 Southern Bypass, have urged the authorities to expedite compensation payments to allow faster road expansion.
On the Mombasa-Kilifi route, progress has also resumed. The first segment of the Mtwapa-Kwa Kadzengo-Kilifi section (A7) is now 80 per cent complete.
This is part of a broader Sh789 billion regional programme, dubbed the “Silk Road,” which aims to connect Mtwapa-Malindi and Baga Moyo-Lunga Lunga to improve trade and mobility across Coastal countries
. The initiative is supported by the African Development Bank, African Development Fund, and European Union, and had been delayed due to disputes over compensation. The project is now on track for completion by December 2026.
Chirchir said the release of the Sh175 billion would rejuvenate the Coast’s road network, create jobs, and enhance trade, bringing renewed momentum to stalled construction projects.
