Kenyan capital’s key connection construction contract cost climbs

The project to build the new highway link from Kenya’s capital Nairobi to the city’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is now expected to cost US$579 million. This represents an increase of around $206 million from the pricetag originally expected for the link. This cost increase comes despite a substantial change in the design, with the route now featuring a series of flyover sections and underpasses, instead of being elevated along its 43.5km length as originally proposed. This redesign will
February 27, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

The project to build the new highway link from Kenya’s capital Nairobi to the city’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is now expected to cost US$579 million. This represents an increase of around $206 million from the pricetag originally expected for the link. This cost increase comes despite a substantial change in the design, with the route now featuring a series of flyover sections and underpasses, instead of being elevated along its 43.5km length as originally proposed. This redesign will allow future widening work to be carried out to further increase capacity, given the anticipated continuing growth in Kenya’s vehicle ownership and traffic volumes. This change to the design also makes constructing the necessary interchanges easier and less costly.

The project is being managed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), with financing for the first stretch being supplied by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and from the World Bank for the final section.  The route will be tolled and will also feature dedicated lanes for buses.

The project was first proposed over 10 years ago but progress ground to a halt due to insufficient funding. The plans were then dusted off following the availability of new funding sources. Austrian contractor Strabag originally won the deal to build and operate the route but there were concerns over its financing model and the arrangement was cancelled. However, the construction of the project is being carried out in three stages, with Chinese contractor China Wu Yi building one of the sections.

Finance & Funding

Related Content

  • Highway work boost in North Africa
    August 21, 2012
    North Africa is seeing construction business return - Mike Woof reports After a troubled period, stability looks to be returning to North African nations, which can only be good for the road construction sector. First Tunisia, then Egypt and finally Libya saw tumultuous revolts against the previous autocratic (and in one case at least, despotic) rulers. All three nations are now benefiting from a return to stability, with economic growth also improving once more.
    Read More
  • US$3.6 billion highway project for Kenya
    June 12, 2024
    A US$3.6 billion highway project is planned for Kenya.
    Read More
  • Realigning Kenyan bypass to avoid quagmire and ease congestion
    March 22, 2012
    Japanese consultants are planning to realign a Kenyan bypass, as Shem Oirere reports. Japanese consultants are resolving an engineering quagmire involving a 17.5km bypass in Kenya's Coast region. The new design realigning the bypass is underway by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) consultants. The road is an alternative link from the hinterland to the south coast and to the proposed Dongo Kundu Port. The 23m-wide bypass would also serve to reduce traffic congestion across the Likoni Channel.
    Read More
  • Realigning Kenyan bypass to avoid quagmire and ease congestion
    March 21, 2012
    Japanese consultants are planning to realign a Kenyan bypass, as Shem Oirere reports. Japanese consultants are resolving an engineering quagmire involving a 17.5km bypass in Kenya's Coast region. The new design realigning the bypass is underway by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) consultants. The road is an alternative link from the hinterland to the south coast and to the proposed Dongo Kundu Port. The 23m-wide bypass would also serve to reduce traffic congestion across the Likoni Channel t
    Read More

Highlighted Content