Kenya Toll Roads and Nairobi Expressway: Complete Guide to Rates and Payment 2026
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Kenya Toll Roads and Nairobi Expressway Complete Guide
System: Distance-segmented tolling with per-entry-point charges
Main Road: Nairobi Expressway (A8) — Mlolongo to Westlands, 27 km
Operator: Moja Expressway (concession) under Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)
Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Technology: Manual toll booths, M-Pesa mobile money, prepaid cards, cash
Opened: May 2022 (phased; full operations by July 2022)
Do I Need to Use the Nairobi Expressway? 2026 Update
No, using the Nairobi Expressway is optional — but for most drivers travelling across Nairobi, it is the fastest and most predictable option. The free-to-use Uhuru Highway and Mombasa Road run parallel and remain toll-free, but are subject to severe congestion, particularly during morning and evening peak hours.
Key Reality: A trip from Mlolongo (JKIA airport area) to Westlands on the free road can take 90 minutes to over two hours during peak hours. The same journey on the Nairobi Expressway typically takes 20–30 minutes. For airport transfers and cross-city business travel, the time saving is significant.
2026 Update: Moja Expressway continues to operate all five toll plazas. Cash, M-Pesa, and prepaid card payments are accepted at all booths. There is no electronic transponder (tag-based) system currently in operation — all tolls are collected manually at staffed booths. Plans for a contactless/RFID system have been discussed but not yet deployed as of 2026.
Beyond Nairobi: Kenya has a small number of other tolled facilities on national highways managed by KeNHA, primarily on the A109 (Mombasa Road corridor). Most roads outside Nairobi remain toll-free.
Kenya Toll Costs: Current Rates
The Nairobi Expressway charges a flat rate per toll plaza entry point, varying by vehicle class. There are five toll plazas along the 27 km route. You pay at each plaza you pass through — a full end-to-end journey from Mlolongo to Westlands passes through all five and costs a total of KES 750 for a Class A vehicle.
Current Nairobi Expressway Toll Rates by Vehicle Class (2026)
| Vehicle Class | Description | Rate per Plaza (KES) | Full End-to-End (5 Plazas, KES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A | Saloon cars, small SUVs, motorcycles with sidecar | 150 | 750 |
| Class B | Large SUVs, vans, minibuses (up to 33 seats) | 250 | 1,250 |
| Class C | Buses (over 33 seats), medium trucks (2 axles) | 400 | 2,000 |
| Class D | Heavy trucks, semi-trailers (3+ axles) | 600 | 3,000 |
Note: Motorcycles (solo, without sidecar) are not permitted on the Nairobi Expressway. Rates as published by Moja Expressway and KeNHA.
Nairobi Expressway Toll Plaza Locations
| Plaza | Location | Near |
|---|---|---|
| Plaza 1 | Mlolongo | Eastern end, near JKIA Airport |
| Plaza 2 | Syokimau / Athi River Road | South-east Nairobi |
| Plaza 3 | Haile Selassie / Railways | Nairobi CBD area |
| Plaza 4 | Museum Hill | Upper Hill / Westlands approach |
| Plaza 5 | Westlands | Western terminus |
You are charged only at the plazas you pass through. For example, a trip entering at Mlolongo and exiting at Haile Selassie passes through 3 plazas, costing KES 450 for a Class A vehicle.
How to Pay Kenya Tolls
All Nairobi Expressway toll plazas are staffed and accept multiple payment methods. There are no unmanned gantries or automated licence-plate billing systems currently in use.
1. M-Pesa (Recommended):
- Kenya's dominant mobile money platform, accepted at all plazas
- Pay via the M-Pesa app, USSD (*334#), or scan a QR code at the booth
- Paybill number for Moja Expressway: use the paybill displayed at each plaza
- Fastest non-cash option; reduces queue times
2. Cash (Kenyan Shillings):
- Accepted at all booths; exact change is recommended to reduce wait times
- Foreign currency is not accepted — exchange to KES before travelling
3. Prepaid Expressway Card:
- Top-up cards available from Moja Expressway offices and select outlets
- Tap-to-pay at toll booths; reduces transaction time
- Useful for frequent commuters
4. Debit/Credit Card:
- Visa and Mastercard accepted at most toll plazas
- Contactless payment available at equipped booths
To calculate toll costs for your specific journey on the Nairobi Expressway, use the TollGuru Kenya toll calculator:
Enforcement & Penalties
All Nairobi Expressway toll plazas are barrier-controlled — vehicles cannot pass without paying. A physical boom gate blocks access until payment is confirmed. There is no drive-through or video billing option.
Attempting to pass without payment:
- Barrier gates physically prevent vehicle passage — no toll evasion is possible without forcibly breaking the barrier
- CCTV cameras monitor all plazas; footage is reviewed for incidents
- Deliberate barrier damage or evasion is treated as a criminal offence under the Kenya Roads Act
Prohibited vehicles:
- Solo motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians are not permitted on the Expressway
- Overloaded heavy vehicles may be turned away pending compliance with axle load limits
Recent Changes (2026)
Operations and Payment:
- All five toll plazas remain fully operational under the Moja Expressway concession
- M-Pesa QR-code payment has been expanded to all plazas following a rollout that began in late 2023
- Contactless card readers upgraded at Mlolongo and Westlands plazas
Road Network Context:
- KeNHA continues feasibility studies for a second expressway corridor (Nairobi Northern Bypass upgrade) — no toll decision confirmed yet
- The Nairobi Expressway remains Kenya's only fully operational urban tolled motorway
- A102 (Nairobi–Nakuru) highway upgrade under construction; not tolled as of 2026
Toll Rates:
- Rates have remained unchanged since the expressway's 2022 launch; no increase was announced for 2026
- The concession agreement with Moja Expressway permits periodic rate reviews; any revision requires KeNHA approval
Planning Your Journey
Cost Considerations:
- Airport transfer (Mlolongo to Westlands, full expressway): KES 750 for Class A
- CBD to Westlands (Plazas 3–5): KES 450 for Class A
- Daily commuter using full route (both ways): KES 1,500 per day for Class A
- At 2026 exchange rates of approximately KES 130/USD, the full end-to-end trip costs around USD 5.75 for a Class A vehicle
Toll-Free Alternatives:
- Mombasa Road (A109): Free parallel route but heavily congested during peak hours (6–9 AM, 4–8 PM)
- Uhuru Highway: Free surface road through the CBD; suitable for short trips but congestion-prone
- Southern Bypass (A104): Toll-free, useful for traffic between Karen/Ngong and Lang'ata — does not duplicate the Expressway corridor
Peak Hour Guidance:
- The Expressway itself does not experience the same level of congestion as surface roads, but toll plaza queues can lengthen during peak hours (7–9 AM and 5–7 PM weekdays)
- M-Pesa or prepaid card holders typically clear plazas faster than cash payers
- Overnight hours (10 PM–5 AM) have negligible queues
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Nairobi Expressway on a motorcycle?
No. Solo motorcycles (boda bodas) and bicycles are prohibited on the Nairobi Expressway for safety reasons. The road is restricted to four-wheeled motor vehicles and above. Motorcycles with sidecars classified as Class A are permitted.
Can I pay with US dollars or other foreign currency?
No. Only Kenyan Shillings (KES) are accepted as cash. However, international debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted at most plazas, which effectively allows foreign visitors to pay without exchanging cash first.
Do I pay at every toll plaza I pass through?
Yes. There is no single "journey ticket" — each plaza charges separately. If you enter at Mlolongo and exit before Westlands, you only pay for the plazas you pass through. A full Mlolongo-to-Westlands trip passes through all five plazas.
Is there a discount for frequent users or residents?
There is no published government subsidy or resident discount scheme as of 2026. The prepaid Expressway Card does not offer discounted rates but reduces payment time at plazas. Discussions about a commuter discount programme have been raised in the Kenya National Assembly but no scheme has been implemented.
Are emergency vehicles exempt from tolls?
Yes. Ambulances, fire engines, police vehicles on active duty, and other designated emergency response vehicles are permitted to use the Expressway without paying tolls. Boom gates are operated manually by booth staff who can grant exemption on sight.
Are there other toll roads in Kenya besides the Nairobi Expressway?
Yes, but on a smaller scale. KeNHA operates toll plazas on sections of the A109 (Mombasa Road) at Mlolongo and at the Mombasa end of the highway. These are conventional highway toll plazas with rates significantly lower than the Expressway. Most Kenyan national highways, including the A104 (Nairobi–Nakuru) and A2 (Thika Road), are currently toll-free.
Kenya vs. Neighbouring Countries
| Country | System Type | Coverage | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Manual booths, M-Pesa, cash | Nairobi Expressway + select A109 plazas | KES 150–600 per plaza |
| Tanzania | Manual toll booths, cash | Major national highways (TANROADS) | TZS 1,000–5,000 per plaza |
| Uganda | Manual booths; Kampala–Entebbe Expressway | Single tolled expressway (35 km) | UGX 5,000–15,000 per trip |
| Ghana | Manual toll plazas on highways | Major trunk roads (GHA) | GHS 1–5 per plaza |
| Nigeria | Manual and electronic (Lekki Expressway) | Selected federal highways and Lagos expressways | NGN 200–1,000 per plaza |
| South Africa | SANRAL open-road tolling (GFIP) + manual plazas | National highways; Gauteng freeway network | ZAR 0.30–0.75/km |
Official Resources
- Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) — national toll road oversight and concession management
- Moja Expressway — official Nairobi Expressway operator; toll rates, plaza information, prepaid card top-up
- M-Pesa by Safaricom — mobile money payment platform used at all Nairobi Expressway plazas
- National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) — vehicle classification, road safety, and licensing authority
