This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
Kenya is planning to build two steel footbridges at a cost of Sh4.2 billion, which could be the world's most expensive, to improve road safety in Mombasa County.
However, the construction of a new expressway along the same stretch has raised questions about the need for the footbridges.
According to a report presented to the National Assembly's Committee of Delegated Legislation, the loan negotiations for the project and tens of others were ongoing.
One of the lenders, ICO, is to provide Sh2.66 billion (Euro 22.3 million) on concessional terms, while the balance of Sh1.6 billion is intended to be a commercial loan from Spanish Bank BBVA.
The architectural designs of the expressway to be built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation do not have any allowances for footbridges.
Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Director General Eng Peter Mundinia has indicated that the bridges intended for the Mombasa Road stretch may have to be erected elsewhere.
"The footbridges will have to be moved elsewhere, such as to Thika Road where we feel we need more," he said.
Already, two existing footbridges that were erected less than five years ago, and at what was suspected to have been inflated costs, will have to give way.
At least Sh363 million was paid to the contractor, H Young, for the two bridges at the General Motors crossing and another at Bellevue in South C that under investigations by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
