Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has stated that the Nairobi Expressway incurred damages worth Sh500 million due to vandalism during Wednesday’s anti-government protests. As a result, three toll plazas have been closed. The Moja Expressway Company, responsible for operating the toll road connecting Mlolongo to the Nairobi-Nakuru highway via the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), announced the closure of the Mlolongo, Syokimau, and standard gauge railway (SGR) toll stations. Motorists traveling along the Westlands-Mlolongo route were advised to access the Nairobi Expressway from the JKIA Toll Station for their safety.
The riots centered around Mlolongo, located on the outskirts of the city, causing transportation disruptions, vandalizing the expressway, and creating general chaos. The damage included the destruction of the dividing wall, looting of the iron fence, and the destruction of numerous flowers lining the expressway.
Mr. Murkomen has stated that the organizers of the protests will bear the cost of repairing the damaged sections of the 27.1-kilometer Nairobi Expressway. The expressway, constructed under a public-private partnership model, was financed and built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). Moja Expressway, a subsidiary of CRBC, will operate the toll road for 27 years to recover the privately-sourced funds used for its construction.
The Nairobi Expressway, which has been operational since May of the previous year, features ten interchanges strategically located to alleviate congestion on Mombasa Road and enhance mobility within the city. These interchanges are situated at Mlolongo, the SGR station, JKIA, Eastern Bypass, Southern Bypass, Capital Centre, Haile Selassie Avenue, Museum Hill, Westlands, and James Gichuru Road.
Moja Expressway has pledged to restore the expressway to its original state before the vandalism occurred and strengthen security measures. Additionally, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen lifted the suspension on public service vehicles (PSVs) from using the toll road while inspecting the damage. The government had previously prohibited PSVs carrying more than seven passengers due to safety incidents and road accidents. However, the temporary suspension was deemed successful, as PSVs have reportedly taken the necessary steps to ensure vehicle roadworthiness and compliance with established rules and regulations.
