Nairobi Expressway becomes a ‘game changer’ for locals-

Daniel Muema

– Daniel Muema, who used to live with his parents on their ancestral land in a village after graduating from university, has now moved into his new house in the town of Kitengela, enjoying modern conveniences.

This life-changing experience happened after the 25-year-old was recruited by the Nairobi Expressway project just a few months ago. As a station monitor at the Mlolongo turnpike station, Muema is in charge of a team of six toll attendants and his salary is high enough to cover his living expenses in the city, one of the urban areas of fastest growing in Kenya.

“Thanks to my job, I now hope to start my own family,” Muema said on Friday.

Linking Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya’s main airport, on the east side of the country’s capital with the Nairobi-Nakuru Expressway in the west, the Nairobi Expressway was financed and built by China Road and Bridge Corporation under a model of public-private partnership.

Since its inauguration in August, the motorway has created at least 520 jobs for locals and made modern road management technology available to them.

Muema has learned valuable skills and techniques during her brief stint at the Chinese company. He is now familiar with China’s advanced technology for managing busy toll roads.

“My Chinese colleagues have been very helpful in imparting knowledge so that I can be the best employee,” he said.

More than 95 percent of the employees working on the 27.1 km highway are from local communities.

Zacharia Mulwa, a highway manager with the patrol unit that ensures the smooth flow of traffic for all motorists on the highway, said modern technologies used on the road could monitor traffic flow and help his unit achieve a response. quickly in case of emergencies.

“We are able to help motorists whose vehicles break down or are involved in accidents in 20 minutes, which is not the case on other highways in the country,” he said, noting that the expressway has become a popular route due to to its high security. standard.

The 24-year-old, who has three siblings, said he was raised by his mother alone after his father’s death. “With my earnings, I can now support my family to meet their daily needs,” he said, adding that the China-built project has transformed the socio-economic fabric of the East African nation.

“This is my first steady job since graduating from university in 2020 and my career development looks bright,” said Brian Wenani, who works as a ticket staff member at the Mlolongo toll station.

Wenani said her work on the Nairobi highway has also inspired her five other siblings to study hard so they can find well-paying jobs in the future.

“The Chinese management style is worth emulating because it ensures that all employees work as a unit to achieve maximum positive results,” said the young man, adding that the Nairobi Expressway is also one of the fruits of growing cooperation between China and Kenya. ■

(Xinhua)

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