Business
Kenya, South Sudan Link Road To Cost Ksh22.6bn
Kenya and South Sudan are set to be joined as the two link roads connecting the two neighbors will cost at least Ksh22.6 billion with the roads agency seeking to open up the Northern corridor. The project is set to connect South Sudan, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) says in documents seeking approval from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) that the first link road, the 142-kilometre from Morpus to Lokichar will cost Ksh16billion and the section stretching from Lesseru to Kitale, a distance of 55 kilometers will cost Ksh6.6billion.
The sections form part of the 945 kilometers Eldoret – Kitale – Lodwar -Nadapal – Kapoeta – Juba corridor interconnecting Kenya and South Sudan and will be built with funding from the State and development partners such as African Development Bank (AfDB).
“It’s one corridor but with different lots each with a specific length. It will be built at Ksh22.6billion but the actual cost will depend on the bidders in the tender process. Engineers just give a rough estimate,” Samwel Kumba, KeNHA Deputy Director of Corporate Communication said.
The road starts at Morpus approximately 66.4 kilometers from Kitale town and runs in a North-Easterly direction through the trading centres in West Pokot of Sebit, Ortum, Marich Pass, and trading centres in Turkana of Kainuk, Kakongu, Kalemngorok, before terminating at Lokichar.
Improvement of the roads will significantly enhance connectivity within the Eastern African region, connecting the Southern regions to the Northern parts of Kenya and linking landlocked South Sudan to Kenya.
