This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
Sh30 Billion Highway to Transform Central Kenya ¶
Kenya's second most expensive road project, valued at Sh30 billion, is set to transform Central Kenya. The dual carriageway, spanning 80 kilometers, will connect Kenol in Murang'a County to Marua in Nyeri County.
According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the project will be financed in two lots, with the first lot covering the Kenol-Sagana section and the second covering the Sagana-Marua section. The total cost of the project is Sh33 billion, with Sh22 billion allocated to contractors and Sh11 billion for supervision and compensation.
The highway is expected to have a significant impact on the region, reducing traveling time between Nyeri and Nairobi by at least one hour. It will also open up the northern corridor, creating employment opportunities for thousands of residents.
Counties that stand to benefit from the project include Murang'a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Machakos, and Embu. Kiambu County will also benefit from the reworking of exits into Thika town.
KeNHA spokesman Joseph Kariuki stated that the redesigned Thika Town exits will address a traffic gridlock that has become a permanent feature after the completion of the superhighway.
Traders with premises between Kenol and Makuyu markets, as well as Kambiti, Makutano, and Sagana, have been given a one-month notice to vacate the road reserve. However, some small-scale traders have pleaded with the government to allow them more time to remain in business to repay loans.
