President William Ruto's visit to the United States, culminating in a meeting at the White House with Joe Biden, among other things, laid the groundwork for the construction of the new four-lane highway that will connect the capital Nairobi to the port city of Mombasa.
In fact, an American contractor, the infrastructure asset manager Everstrong, will finance and provide for the construction of the highway, which will be modelled on the Chinese Nairobi Expressway, i.e. a closed, tolled link with guarded exits and entrances. Most likely, much of the route will be elevated and it will be the longest toll motorway in Sub-Saharan Africa, at 440 kilometres.

The agreement signed by the US company and the Kenyan government, according to reports in the mainstream national media, stipulates that Everstrong can operate the highway independently for the first 30 years after its opening, but it is likely that the Ruto administration will authorise a so-called 99-year land trust, with the transfer of the roadbed related to the route.
Everstrong, which in turn will seek sponsors for the entire project, will be the main shareholder with a contribution of about USD 3.6 billion, while the Kenyan government will pay no money. While the US company will appoint an African company to collect the tolls.
‘The project is a top priority for Kenya and will bring significant economic growth along the corridor,’ the government said in a statement, hinting that citizens who cannot afford to pay the toll will still be able to continue using the existing road, as well as the standard gauge railway (SGR). Regarding the development of the project, environmental feasibility studies and agreements with local communities affected by the highway crossing in their territories, the government assured that the Nairobi-Mombasa will be a benefit to all, because in addition to improving and speeding up connections, it will increase trade, reduce fatal accidents and wildlife mortality.