The government has received funding from three financial institutions from the Middle East for the construction and upgrading of the 90Km Samatar- Wajir Road.

In a notice published on Tuesday, July 15, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) confirmed that Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Saudi Fund for Economic Development (SFD), and Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) would be funding the project.

According to KeNHA, the funds will cater for site clearance, earthworks, improved subgrade material, natural material sub-base, bridge, box culverts, bus bays, road markings, road signages, guardrails, and landscaping.

The road is part of the 740-kilometer Isiolo-Mandera road corridor, which connects Kenya to the Somali border. The road runs from Samatar to Wajir town, with a section also connecting to Modogashe.

Mombasa – Mariakani (A109) Highway project Lot 1 2017.

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KeNHA

"The Samatar – Wajir (A13) Road is located in Wajir County in the North-eastern part of Kenya. The road forms part of the 740km Isiolo – Mandera road linking Kenya to the Somalia border. The road starts at Kanchara shopping centre, which is approximately 255km from the A2 junction at Isiolo and 65km from Modogashe, and terminates at Wajir town at the intersection of B96 (Wajir – Gerille road) and A14 (Wajir – Griftu – Moyale road)," the notice read.

KeNHA has, in turn, opened tender bids to eligible construction firms who are interested in overseeing the upgrading of the highly anticipated project.

According to the authority's Eligibility criteria, the establishment of the short list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the Saudi Fund, OFID, Kuwait Fund, and BADEA’s procedures, which are available at their respective websites.

"African, Arab, or African-Arab associated Contractors are encouraged to express their interest. 8. A 5% margin of preference shall be applied to the African, Arab, or African-Arab associated Contractors," KeNHA stated.

"EOI must be delivered in written form and clearly marked with the assignment title & Tender No, and deposited or addressed to the Deputy Director, (Supply Chain Management) Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)," it added.

In another announcement, the authority confirmed that it is in the process of kick-starting the expansion of Kiambu Road from a two-lane single carriageway to a four-lane dual carriageway, after it received a Ksh38.7 billion loan from the China Export-Import (EXIM) Bank for the upgrading of the road.

The highway will include two-lane service roads on both sides and pedestrian walkways along the entire project route, as well as new bridges.

The road is expected to be expanded from Pangani Estate in Nairobi, through Muthaiga, and then to Ndemberi, Kiambu County. The project aims to decongest traffic along the busy road as well as the Thika Super Highway.

A traffic snarl up along Kiambu Road on Sunday, September 2, 2021.

Kenyans.co.ke