Mombasa Gateway Bridge will be the Africa's longest bridge

A recent agreement between Kenya and Japan at a value of KSh260 billion is set to benefit the Ongo Kundu Infrastructure Ecosystem by funding Mombasa Gateway Bridge. The bridge is anticipated to become Africa's longest bridge upon its completion.

The Mombasa Gateway Bridge is a 1.4km link bridge with a 660-meter span that is expected to become a vital transportation route. Its construction will last over three years. This cable-stayed bridge will feature four traffic lanes while it will stand (at its midpoint) at a height of 69m, which is sufficient for ships to cross underneath it.

The importance of the new bridge is underscored by Mombasa's status as Kenya's primary port, suggesting that the improvement of the city's traffic flow will contribute to the broader national economy. Moreover, replacing the old highway with the new bridge will have environmental benefits by facilitating the natural flow of water.

In addition to the bridge project, Kenya is set to issue a KSh40 billion Samurai bond in Japan to fund energy and infrastructure projects. On the other hand, Kenya has secured KSh30 billion from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the purchase of heavy machinery and mechanized assets.

It is mentioned that Kenya will be the first African nation that has signed a Defence Cooperation agreement with Japan. President Ruto oversaw the signing of these two-sided agreements following discussions with Prime Minister Kishida of Japan. The president expressed his gratitude for Japan's assistance in completing Phase II of the Mwea Irrigation Scheme and the National Rice Masterplan.