This archive report was first published on 23 August 2019.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is set to undertake a Sh100 billion highway project that will benefit four counties in Kenya. The project, which has been committed to by the World Bank, will see the construction of a 740km highway that will run through Isiolo, Meru, Wajir, and Mandera counties.
According to Bernard Parmaray, an official at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the World Bank has already released Sh50 billion for the first phase of the project, which will cover 356km. The tendering process for the project is currently underway.
Speaking in Meru, Parmaray noted that the ministry has signed an MoU with the four counties involved that binds them to lower construction costs for the project. He revealed that the counties have agreed to waive levies for materials that are produced and transported within their domains.
“When planning this project we realised that the cost of materials will go high especially when levies charged by counties are factored in,” Parmaray said. “So we have agreed with the governors of the respective counties to waive levies for materials that are produced and transported within their domains.”
The project will also see the laying of a fibre optic cable along the highway, as well as the construction of social amenities along the road. Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi described the project as a blessing to the county, saying it will open up the drier northern parts of Meru.
“It is a very important road for us given that it is going to open up the drier northern parts of Meru,” Kiraitu said. “We have agreed that we will charge no levies to materials or labour to be used on the road.”
