This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
Published on July 5, 2019, a Kenyan official announced that Chinese contractors are on course to complete the Kenya-South Sudan highway in 2020. The upgrade involves upgrading about 248 km of road to bitumen standards on the Kenyan section of the road that links to South Sudan.
According to Julius Korir, principal secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, three Chinese contractors won the tender to upgrade the road. The project is about 30 percent complete, and Korir expects the road to be commissioned in 2020.
The Kenya-South Sudan highway is a crucial part of the East African Community road network, and Kenya is prioritizing it to boost intra-regional trade. Korir noted that trade between South Sudan and Kenya is hampered due to poor road quality, forcing Kenyan traders to travel through Uganda, a process that could take up to three days.
With the new road, travel time will be cut by at least two days, making it easier for traders to reach South Sudan. The upgrade is expected to improve the quality of life for people living in the region and boost economic growth.
