As Kenyans last month focused all their efforts towards the August 8^th election, a road construction project set to see Kenyans have a high speed express way from Nairobi to Mombasa was tabled.

A team from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Transport Ministry had already sent documents about the project to the Attorney General for clearance.

An American firm, Becthel International Inc was awarded the contract to build the 473 kilometre highway days before the August 8^th election.

The awarding of the tender to Becthel International Inc sparked a war among agencies interested in the contract.

Kenyans have again questioned why the awarding of this tender was never reported as breaking news and why there was no announcement from State House.

The Jubilee government boasts of the Standard Gauge Railway, popularly known as the Madaraka Express, launched earlier this year. The railway connects the capital city and the coast and is expected to stretch up to Naivasha.

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Here is what you need to know about the high-speed express highway

• The expressway will be one of the most important infrastructure projects in the East African community.
• The highway will have four lanes and 19 interchanges
• The expressway will become a toll road and will provide a faster transit to support growth and industry development
• Bechtel International INC is expected to employ over 4000 people and provide training and capacity building
• The project has been structured to achieve early completion, under a fast track delivery model, with concurrent design and construction. The first section, from Mombasa Road – Kyumvi to ICT Konza, is targeted to open by mid-2019.
• The project will start this year, with construction beginning in 2018.
• It is proposed that the United States and the United Kingdom export credit agencies such as the US Export – Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and UK Export Finance, will provide financing support.
• The project will also include master planning for three special economic zones along the alignment and will be focused on developing business in coordination with the new Standard Gauge Railway.