The Kenyan government has secured Ksh18 billion for the construction of the Nairobi-Nakuru Mau Summit Highway, with funding approved by the African Development Bank on Monday, July 18. The project aims to expand the highway into a four-lane carriageway, with the loan carrying a 20-year tenor. The African Development Bank, alongside the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will provide a senior loan of up to USD150 million (UA107million) with a 20-year tenor and a 3.5-year grace period during construction.
This initiative falls under the government’s First Mover Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program and is expected to be completed within three years. The project includes widening the existing 175km four-lane dual carriageway from Rironi to Mau Summit and strengthening the 57.8km section from Rironi to Naivasha. The concession for the project was awarded to Rift Valley Highway Limited (RVH), a Kenyan-incorporated company owned by the VINCI Group and Meridian Infrastructure Africa Fund (MIAF).
The highway is a crucial part of the Northern Corridor, facilitating transportation and trade among East African countries. It also serves as a vital link from the Port of Mombasa to Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), promoting regional integration. The project is expected to create 1,500 jobs during construction and 200 jobs during operation, with a minimum of 40% local content in terms of labor and locally-sourced materials.
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