US Export-Import and overseas Private Investment Corporation to finance the project

At  glance

• Nairobi-Mombasa drive takes between 10 and 12 hours
• SGR train takes about 4 hours and  30 minutes
• Mombasa is home to Kenya’s port and a tourist attraction

NAIROBI, KENYA:  The Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) is now set to oversee the construction of a new high-speed highway that will cost Sh230 billion.

Bechtel International, a US based engineering firm, will do the construction after signing the agreement with the Kenya's Highway Authority.

"Bechtel has been selected to build the first high-speed expressway in Kenya. The 473-kilometre highway will improve connectivity and safety," KeNHA's director general Peter Mundinia  told reporters.

The US Export-Import and overseas Private Investment Corporation will finance the project.

"The highway will have four lanes with provisions for future expansion to six  and 19 interchanges, It will reduce time taken to Mombasa from Nairobi to roughly four hours" Mr.Mundinia said.

KeNHA says that the project has been structured in such a way that it will be completed in time to allow motorists to use it soonest possible. Bechtel is among the largest construction companies in the world and it has already set up it African office in Nairobi.