The government of Kenya has selected a consortium led by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as transaction advisor for the Mombasa-Nairobi highway expansion PPP project.

According to the PPP Unit of the Treasury, the selected team will conduct a feasibility study on the commercial and technical viability of the project, which will be implemented by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA). PPP Unit reported:

"Negotiations with preferred bidder are complete. Contract signing and commencement of consultancy service is envisaged in February 2015"

The project involves the expansion of the Mombasa-Nairobi highway (A109) into a dual carriageway. The A109 road is the main road link between the Kenyan cities of Nairobi and Mombasa. The 470km highway is a key link to the Mombasa port which is the main gateway to East Africa.

We have recently reported that Deloitte had been selected as lead transaction advisor for the development of the Second Nyali Bridge PPP project in Kenya. The Second Nyali Bridge PPP project involves the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of the new infrastructure.

These two projects, the Mombasa-Nairobi highway expansion and the Second Nyali Bridge, are critical in unlocking economic development due to the fact that about 95 percent of Kenya's international trade is conveyed through the Port of Mombasa.