Features

Uhuru’s roads launching pad for economic takeoff

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021 10:37 | By

Michael Cherambos 

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration has mega transport infrastructure projects to show for the nearly 10 years in power. 

The projects, which are in line with his campaign pledges, range from rail to ports to roads.  

The road projects have been implemented in two approaches. One is construction of new roads and the renovation of dilapidated ones through the road maintenance levy fund. 

Construction of new roads has been financed mainly through loans chiefly from China.

The other is the public-private partnership funding the construction of the Nairobi Expressway.  

Since taking over in 2013, this administration has constructed a total of 10,500km of new tarmacked roads in eight years.

This in comparison to 11,200km of roads done by the  four previous administrations – including the colonial government – in 123 years.

Besides the fruits of devolution, President Kenyatta, through execution of the functions still under the national government, has shown the intention to make a development mark in every region. 

This is evident in the major road projects that have been completed, or are underway, across the country.

As of today, Kenya is linked to four of its five neighbours by tarmacked roads. 

The Nairobi Expressway is one of the face-changing road projects. The 27km toll dual carriage way runs from Mlolongo in Machakos County through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and terminates in Westlands in Nairobi. 

The road will help ease the traffic gridlock that has characterised the capital for years. Construction of the road is set to be completed early next year.

Once complete, motorists using the dual carriageway will be able to travel from Mlolongo to Rironi in Kiambu County in 24 minutes, down from three hours currently.

Nairobi has been losing billions of shillings annually to delays caused by traffic jams and this will help ease the burden.

One concern about the project is the huge cost of construction. The total cost of the project at completion will be Sh72.8 billion, Sh2.7 billion per kilometre. 

Another milestone project is the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit dual carriageway.

Works on this 233km road will cost Sh160 billion. Once complete, it will cut travel time from Nairobi to Naivasha to 45 minutes. 

Besides easing movement of people and goods, development is bound to boom along the route.

Construction works on the four bypasses – northern, southern, eastern and western – are set to be complete early next year.

These will form a circuit around the city. As a result, residents and goods will be saved the nightmare of the long hours snaking through the central business district to various destinations. 

The upgrading of the Outering road has also given reprieve for the residents of Nairobi’s Eastlands who have long had to put up with frustrating traffic. 

The capital is not the only place that has benefitted from Uhuru’s road expansion.

The 507km Isiolo to Moyale road has reduced travel time from Nairobi to the counties of Wajir, Mandera and Garissa from three days in the past to between six and 12 hours. 

At a cost of Sh91 billion, construction of the 748km Isiolo to Mandera road is set to begin next month. The highway will link the counties of Isiolo, Meru, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera. 

The Coast has the six-lane Mombasa to Mariakani road and the Dongo Kundu bypass among others.

In the Rift Valley, many roads have been completed including the Sotik-Ndanai-Gorgoi and Kericho-Mau Summit.

The ongoing Eldoret Southern bypass will link the Rift Valley to Uganda, DRC, Southern Sudan and Rwanda. 

In Nyanza, one of the major roads is the 172km Isebania-Kisii-Ahero road that runs through the counties of Migori, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Kisii and Kisumu. 

Dualling of the 48km Kenol to Marua road and the 540km Mau Mau road from Gatanga to Njambini is a major boost for Central Kenya.

The 103km Ena to Mitunguu road has eased movement between Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties. 

The projects have been more expensive than anticipated for two reasons. The first is corruption which results in inflating of tenders.

The second is delayed disbursement of funds which the Auditor General has noted leads to accruing of penalties which add to the cost of the projects.

With the intensified war on graft and the findings from the Auditor’s office, these loopholes can and should be sealed.

For a developing country like Kenya, the importance of road expansion cannot be overemphasised. 

Infrastructure precedes development. Uhuru has built the infrastructure. The economic impact of these road networks will elevate the livelihoods of Kenyans in all areas.

—The writer is a public policy analyst— [email protected]

Michael Cherambos 

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration has mega transport infrastructure projects to show for the nearly 10 years in power. 

The projects, which are in line with his campaign pledges, range from rail to ports to roads.  

The road projects have been implemented in two approaches. One is construction of new roads and the renovation of dilapidated ones through the road maintenance levy fund. 

Construction of new roads has been financed mainly through loans chiefly from China.

The other is the public-private partnership funding the construction of the Nairobi Expressway.  

Since taking over in 2013, this administration has constructed a total of 10,500km of new tarmacked roads in eight years.

This in comparison to 11,200km of roads done by the  four previous administrations – including the colonial government – in 123 years.

Besides the fruits of devolution, President Kenyatta, through execution of the functions still under the national government, has shown the intention to make a development mark in every region. 

This is evident in the major road projects that have been completed, or are underway, across the country.

As of today, Kenya is linked to four of its five neighbours by tarmacked roads. 

The Nairobi Expressway is one of the face-changing road projects. The 27km toll dual carriage way runs from Mlolongo in Machakos County through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and terminates in Westlands in Nairobi. 

The road will help ease the traffic gridlock that has characterised the capital for years. Construction of the road is set to be completed early next year.

Once complete, motorists using the dual carriageway will be able to travel from Mlolongo to Rironi in Kiambu County in 24 minutes, down from three hours currently.

Nairobi has been losing billions of shillings annually to delays caused by traffic jams and this will help ease the burden.

One concern about the project is the huge cost of construction. The total cost of the project at completion will be Sh72.8 billion, Sh2.7 billion per kilometre. 

Another milestone project is the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit dual carriageway.

Works on this 233km road will cost Sh160 billion. Once complete, it will cut travel time from Nairobi to Naivasha to 45 minutes. 

Besides easing movement of people and goods, development is bound to boom along the route.

Construction works on the four bypasses – northern, southern, eastern and western – are set to be complete early next year.

These will form a circuit around the city. As a result, residents and goods will be saved the nightmare of the long hours snaking through the central business district to various destinations. 

The upgrading of the Outering road has also given reprieve for the residents of Nairobi’s Eastlands who have long had to put up with frustrating traffic. 

The capital is not the only place that has benefitted from Uhuru’s road expansion.

The 507km Isiolo to Moyale road has reduced travel time from Nairobi to the counties of Wajir, Mandera and Garissa from three days in the past to between six and 12 hours. 

At a cost of Sh91 billion, construction of the 748km Isiolo to Mandera road is set to begin next month. The highway will link the counties of Isiolo, Meru, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera. 

The Coast has the six-lane Mombasa to Mariakani road and the Dongo Kundu bypass among others.

In the Rift Valley, many roads have been completed including the Sotik-Ndanai-Gorgoi and Kericho-Mau Summit.

The ongoing Eldoret Southern bypass will link the Rift Valley to Uganda, DRC, Southern Sudan and Rwanda. 

In Nyanza, one of the major roads is the 172km Isebania-Kisii-Ahero road that runs through the counties of Migori, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Kisii and Kisumu. 

Dualling of the 48km Kenol to Marua road and the 540km Mau Mau road from Gatanga to Njambini is a major boost for Central Kenya.

The 103km Ena to Mitunguu road has eased movement between Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties. 

The projects have been more expensive than anticipated for two reasons. The first is corruption which results in inflating of tenders.

The second is delayed disbursement of funds which the Auditor General has noted leads to accruing of penalties which add to the cost of the projects.

With the intensified war on graft and the findings from the Auditor’s office, these loopholes can and should be sealed.

For a developing country like Kenya, the importance of road expansion cannot be overemphasised. 

Infrastructure precedes development. Uhuru has built the infrastructure. The economic impact of these road networks will elevate the livelihoods of Kenyans in all areas.

—The writer is a public policy analyst— [email protected]

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