NAIROBI -- The 27.1-kilometer Nairobi Expressway, built by a Chinese firm, received four prestigious awards on Friday evening for advancing green and seamless mobility in Kenya and across the East African region.

The expressway garnered acclaim at the third annual Africa Mashariki Transport Award (AMTA), an event established in 2022 to honor excellence in transport across Kenya and the broader region. Hosted by BH Media Agency in collaboration with Kenya's Ministry of Roads and Transport, the AMTA awards recognize organizations with outstanding records in sustainability, efficiency and customer-centered service.

The award ceremony took place ahead of the third annual ATMA Expo and Gala, which ran from Wednesday to Friday, bringing together a diverse range of participants to showcase innovations under the theme "Data-Driven Approach to Safety in Transport."

The Nairobi Expressway received four major honors: Road Transport Infrastructure of the Year, Sustainable Transport, Best Technological Innovation and Corporate Road Safety Initiative of the Year. Speaking on the recognition, Jeanne May Ong'iyo, spokesperson for the Nairobi Expressway, said the awards reaffirm the company's dedication to customer satisfaction, green mobility and positive economic impact.

"We are committed to continually enhancing the customer experience and partnering with like-minded industry players to deliver world-class service," Ong'iyo said.

Construction of the Nairobi Expressway began in September 2020, and the road was officially launched in July 2022 after a successful trial period that started in May 2022. Since its launch, the toll road has significantly cut travel time between Nairobi's southern areas, home to the main airport, and the upscale Westlands suburb, from two hours during peak times to just 20 minutes.