President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration has been working tirelessly to complete major infrastructure projects across the country, with a focus on finishing them before the end of his tenure in August.
According to KURA Director General Engineer Silas Kinoti, a majority of the projects, which cost billions of shillings, are nearing completion. These include the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway, which are expected to play a significant role in cementing President Kenyatta's legacy.
Speaking on the progress of these projects, Kinoti said, "A majority of the projects whose cost runs into billions of shillings are nearing completion, with the current administration going into overdrive to ensure they are unveiled before the upcoming August election."
One of the notable projects is the Nairobi Expressway, a 27.1km highway that will cost Ksh73.5 billion. The highway features a four-lane and six-lane dual carriageway and is expected to be opened by April. The China Road and Bridge Corporation, which is constructing the expressway, will steer its operations for about 27 years to reclaim its cost by collecting tolls.
Kinoti also highlighted the importance of good infrastructure in creating employment opportunities for the country's youth. He said, "With good infrastructure, Kenyans will be able to run their businesses, generate wealth and create employment for the country's youth. We are doing this because without it there will be no jobs."
As part of the government's plan to avoid burdening the public with heavy loans, it has opted for Public-Private Partnerships in financing infrastructure projects. This approach has opened up the country for trade and investment, with the Sh10 billion increase in allocation for ongoing road construction last year being a testament to this.
