Economy
Morkomin says the vandalism on the Nairobi highway cost Sh500m
Thursday, July 13, 2023
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen inspects the extent of damage at the Mlolongo Expressway toll station on July 13, 2023. Photo | Wilfred Nyangarisi | NMG
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Kipchumba Murkumen said vandals caused Sh500m worth of damage on the Nairobi expressway during Wednesday’s anti-government protests, which led to three death yard closures.
Moja Expressway, which operates the expressway linking Mlolongo to the Nairobi-Nakuru Expressway in the Westlands via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), said on Thursday that motorists will not be able to access Mlolongo, Syokimau and the Standard Railway (SGR). ) toll stations because they remain closed.
“For your safety, we urge all motorists traveling on the Westlands-Mlolongo route to exit GKIA-bound motorists and Mlongo-Westlands motorists to safely reach the Nairobi Expressway from the GKIA station,” the company said in a statement on Thursday.
Mlolongo, on the outskirts of the city, was the epicenter of riots that disrupted transport, damaged the highway and generally caused chaos. The highway’s dividing wall was destroyed, iron fencing was ransacked and thousands of flowers lining it were smashed onto the burning tarmac.
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Morcumen said protest organizers would bear the Sh87 billion cost of repairing the damaged sections of the 27.1-kilometre road, which was funded and built by the China Roads and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) under a public-private partnership model.
Funds from private sources to build the double-decker highway will be recouped through tolls by CRBC’s Moja Expressway, which will operate the road for the next 27 years.
The Nairobi Expressway with 10 interchanges, to ease congestion on the busy Mombasa Road and improve commuting in the city, has been in use since May last year.
Interchanges are at Mlolongo, Standard Rail (SGR) station, JKIA, Eastern Bypass, Southern Bypass, Capital Centre, Haile Selassie Avenue, Museum Hill, Westlands and James Gichuru Road.
Muga Expressway said it will restore the road to its original state before the vandalism and enhance security.
Matatus is back on the road
Mr Morcomen, while inspecting damage on the highway Thursday, also lifted the suspension of Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) from using the toll road.
A year ago, the government banned Eindhoven vehicles carrying more than seven passengers, following safety incidents and road massacres.
In one incident, an Embassava Sacco minibus sped into the toll gate at the entrance to Mlolongo, crashing into others on the line.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Kipchumba Morkomin announced on Thursday that the temporary suspension “has proven successful with PSV taking the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and adhere to the set rules and regulations”.
– Hilary Kimoyo, Daniel Ojita, and Helen Githiga