Motorists to pay for using newly opened Dongo Kundu Bypass -KenHA

Motorists seeking to use the newly opened multi-billion-shilling Dongo Kundu bypass in Mombasa, which offers an alternative to the Likoni Ferry for travelers going to the South Coast will soon have to pay.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), tasked with building and maintaining highways and other big infrastructure projects in the country said the tolling policy will first be subjected to public participation and be implemented once approved.

According to the agency, the Mwache-Tsunza-Mteza section of the Dongo Kundu bypass is currently in its final stage of surface dressing, road marking, installation of guard rails and information road signs and street lighting.

"A tolling policy is being developed and will soon be subjected to public participation for input. Once approved, this policy will guide consideration of such a project as Dongo Kundu bypass for tolling," said Deputy Communications Director Samwel Kumba.

The agency said the currently ongoing works will contribute to overall safety of the road and appealed for patience as KeNHA expedited completion of the project before the road is fully operational and opened for use by the public.

"The authority, however, appreciates the enthusiasm and eagerness by the public to utilise this remarkable infrastructure given its anticipated benefits. We assure the public that the road will soon be officially commissioned," he said.

Since it was opened for use, motorists have gotten relief in their bid to reach the southern coast while riding on the more than Sh30 billion Dongo Kundu or Southern bypass.

According to KeNHA, the Mwache-Tsunza-Mteza section of the bypass falls under phase two of the whole project and cost the government Sh24 billion. Government also compensated land owners at a cost of more than Sh2 billion.

Phase one comprised roads in Mombasa West connecting Mombasa port, Moi International Airport and the Mwache area. The roads were completed in 2018 at a cost of Sh11 billion.

Phase three of the bypass comprised the construction of the more than seven kilometres of the Mteza-Kibundani road, which was completed about five years ago.

It was constructed at a cost of Sh4 billion and serves the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to the south of Mombasa port.

The Southern bypass was constructed to open up the South Coast for business, agriculture, tourism and settlement as well as decongest Mombasa island.

 The government has been keen on forging partnerships with private contractors to fulfill its pledges especially in infrastructure projects.

Former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that the government has been working on a new funding model referred to as Public Private Partnership (PPP) to build roads and bridges across the country.

The former Transport CS also pointed out during his vetting for the Sports docket that the public would have been informed of the deal during the public participation phase, which was slated to happen in July but was disrupted by the anti-government protests.

He also referenced the Nairobi Expressway whereby the government entered a deal with a Chinese firm to build and toll the road for 30 years before handing it back to the State.

"The truth is the President has said it publicly, the people of Kenya need to be taken through the process of PPP. The PIP (Privately Initiated Proposal) which is the case of JKIA is not the first one," he noted.

"The first PIP was the Expressway, the government evaluated and found a proper contractor and now we have the Expressway with a contract period of 30 years, transferrable back to the people of Kenya once the road is used and maintained."