Nairobi Expressway to open on trial basis on May 14

Speaking during the Nairobi City marathon on Saturday, President Kenyatta said the exercise will allow the government to identify sections that need to be polished up. 

Emphasizing that it will not be an official launch, he said the exercise will help reduce the long traffic jams witnessed in the city.

"This week on Saturday, we shall open, not officially, on a trial basis, so that Kenyans use it, and also to allow us put final touches on some unfinished sections," he said.

"So from next Saturday this road will be open  for use by motorists. It will help us end the rampant traffic jam that is experienced in Nairobi, the city under the sun."

The 27-kilometre expressway that stretches from Mlolongo through Uhuru Highway to the James Gichuru Road junction in Westlands will be operated by Moja Expressway, a subsidiary of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) which designed, financed and constructed the road.

Motorists who intend to use the Nairobi Expressway will be required to register with the company that will run it.

To register with Moja Expressway you will be required to physically visit Nairobi Expressway Plaza Service Centre on Mombasa Road, opposite General Motors.

As it stands, the base toll charge for using the Expressway from Mlolongo to the James Gichuru exit in Westlands is currently set at Ksh.360 while the cost of using the Expressway between the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Westlands is Ksh. 300.

The cost of using the road from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Museum Hill interchange is also set at Ksh. 300.

Light vehicles with two axles are expected to pay the same rates as that of saloon cars (base toll rates) while heavy vehicles with four or more axles will pay five times the base toll rates meaning a heavy trailer will be paying Ksh.1,800 to move from Mlolongo to Westlands on the Expressway.

Bodabodas and tuk-tuks will remain banned on the Nairobi Expressway.