$215 million for Kenya road project

Funding worth $215 million will help pay for a key Kenya road project.
By MJ Woof April 21, 2025 Read time: 1 min
A new road in Northern Kenya will help boost transport for this area, as well as to neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia – image courtesy of © Ibrahim A. Issack| Dreamstime.com


Funding worth $215 million from the World Bank (WB) will help pay for a key road project in Kenya. Improving the 740km B9 route linking El Wak with Rhamu in Northern Kenya will help boost the economy of this comparatively poor area of the country. The African Development Fund (ADF) has also provided funds to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to help improve the road and boost safety on the route. 

The work will form part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP). This will boost transport for Northern Kenya and improve the international transport links with neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia. Rhamu lies on the border between Kenya and Ethiopia to the north, while El Wak is close to Kenya’s border with Somalia. The work will help improve transport and trade on the strategic Isiolo – Mandera Corridor.

The road is of key importance for transport between Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. However, this stretch of the B9 has suffered from neglect and is badly potholed and poorly surfaced, with long delays to users as well as more frequent breakdowns as a result of its inadequate state of repair.

 

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