Sh144bn road projects being undertaken

More than 11 major roads are being constructed at a cost of about Sh144 billion across the country.

The projects are undertaken by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), development partners and other financiers including the World Bank, China Exim Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) .

”The authority has embarked on the construction and rehabilitation of major road networks across the country for sustainable socio-economic development for Kenyans and the region,” KeNHA said in an advertisement published in the local dailies.

In Mombasa, the authority recently completed the construction of Miritini-Mwache-Kipevu Link road. The 10.1km dual carriageway was jointly financed by the government and JICA at a cost of Sh11.5 billion.

Another project is the dualling of Mombasa-Kwa Jomvu-Mariakani (A8) road, which links the Port of Mombasa with neighbouring countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Construction of the Mombasa-Kwa Jomvu road section is at 48 percent completion. It is financed by the government and AfDB at Sh6.1 billion.

In Nairobi KeNHA is rehabilitating James Gichuru Road junction-Rironi (A8) Road. The road located in Nairobi and Kiambu counties is 25.3km long and is being rehabilitated at Sh16.4 billion. The project, which is fully financed by the government, commenced in August 2017 and it is expected to be completed in November 2020.

Another project is the Sh17 billion Nairobi Western Bypass, which has just commenced and is expected to be completed in the next 39 months.

Others are second carriageway along Athi River-Machakos turnoff (A8) road which is 57.1 percent complete.

KeNHA is also improving a key link to Masai Mara National Park at Sekenani Gate in Narok county. The authority is also upgrading Kibwezi-Kitui-Migwani (A9) road at Sh18.4 billion which will also see an alternative shorter route to Moyale and ultimately Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.