Highway of hope and prosperity
Chinese-built road opens in Kenya, with a marathon race celebrating the new vital infrastructure
NAIROBI — Charles Koskey, a 29-year-old hotelier, was among hordes of athletes whose excitement was palpable upon completing the inaugural marathon on Kenya’s China-built Nairobi Expressway.
The amateur athlete said his participation in the race on May 8 was motivated by a firm belief that the 27.1-kilometer modern thoroughfare heralded a bright future for his motherland amid seamless mobility, enhanced connectivity and trade.
The expressway opened to motorists on a trial basis from May 14. It cuts travel time from western parts of Nairobi to the main airport, located in the south, from two hours during peak hours to 20 minutes.
“Once the expressway is opened for use by motorists, we expect traffic gridlock in Nairobi to reduce and position the city as an attractive investment destination,” Koskey told Xinhua on May 8 in an interview.
He completed a half-marathon race along the Nairobi Expressway course, organized by Kenya’s Ministry of Sports.
More than 10,000 amateur and elite runners participated in the inaugural Nairobi marathon dubbed Uhuru Classics — in four categories, namely a 10-km race, 5-km fun run, 21-km halfmarathon and 42-km full marathon.
Koskey said the race elevated the stature of the modern thoroughfare. “This is a good infrastructure for the country. It has created beautiful scenery in Nairobi and our visitors will be happy to enjoy traffic-free rides to the airport,” he said.
According to Koskey, the expressway has already given Nairobi city a much-needed facelift besides positioning it as an attractive trading, transport and logistics hub.
Financed and built by China Road and Bridge Corporation under a public-private partnership model, the Nairobi Expressway is expected to revolutionize mobility in the Kenyan capital.
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said during an award ceremony for marathon winners that the thoroughfare is embedded in the infrastructure modernization master plan for East Africa’s largest metropolis.
“As a result of developing modern infrastructure projects like the Nairobi Expressway, the country will reap multiple benefits, chief among them ease of travel, improved trade, investments and environmental health,” Kenyatta said.
The president added that other expected spin-offs include job creation and growth of the tourism, manufacturing and financial services sectors.
Amina Mohamed, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for Sports, Heritage and Culture, said the Nairobi Expressway, having been certified as an ideal course for hosting long-distance races by Athletic Kenya, could boost sports tourism in the country.
“It will be possible to host international athletic events along the expressway’s route in the future. This will be a boost to the country’s stature as a powerhouse for elite races,” Mohamed said.
Brimin Misoi, the 32-year-old winner of the men’s full marathon, said he was delighted to race along the Nairobi Expressway route, adding that the country required such a modern infrastructure project to thrive.
A native of Kenya’s northwestern county of Elgeyo Marakwet, often described as the home of champions, Misoi said socioeconomic benefits to be derived from the thoroughfare might spill over to the hinterland.
Stephen Ole Marai, the treasurer for Athletics Kenya South Rift region, said since the road connects the airport to densely populated sections of the city, it will improve the ease of doing business, attract foreign tourists and facilitate smooth travel for Kenyan athletes to foreign countries for major races.
The construction of the Nairobi Expressway has generated jobs for local skilled workers and provided income streams to suppliers of construction materials.