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Nairobi Expressway Signals Shift in Belt and Road Financing

by Cobus van Staden
Wu Peng is China's top diplomat for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Kenya’s new Nairobi Expressway is finally open to traffic. Transport Minister James Macharia commissioned the new Chinese-built intra-city highway on Saturday, ahead of its upcoming official launch. 

The 27-kilometer road cost $668 million. How it recoups those costs will be watched keenly throughout the Belt and Road. The Expressway was built by China Road and Bridge Corporation, and funded by its parent company China Communications Construction Co. A subsidiary, Moja Expressway, will operate the road for 27 years and collect tolls, to repay the costs.

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