USD 99.89 million road upgrade project confirmed by KeNHA in Kenya
Posted on : Friday, 7th August 2020
The Government of Kenya, through the state-owned Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), is planning to undertake a USD 99.89 million Kiambu to Thika road upgrade project, which will see an upgrade of 62 kilometers of road connecting Kiambu Road and Thika Highway at B30 / A2. The road upgrade from Kiambu to Thika begins at Junction B32 / B30 on Kiambu Road and continues through Kirigiti, Riabai, Ngewa, Kibichoi, Nembu, Ichaweri, Gatundu, Kang'oo, Mang'u and ends at Thika Road.
The road upgrade from Kiambu to Thika is subdivided into six parts.
The first segment, a 12-kilometer stretch from Kiambu Road to Ngewa, will be upgraded to a dual carriageway while the second segment, a 10-kilometer portion between Ngewa and Kibichoi, will be built for single carriage. On an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report seeking project approval, KeNHA noted that the government has already allocated funds for use in engaging consultancy services through the development vote to conduct preliminary and detailed engineering design, environmental and social impact analysis, preliminary and detailed engineering design of this section.
The 22 km stretch from Kibichoi to Kang'oo via Ichaweri and Gatundu will be planned as a single carriageway with pavements, and the 4 km stretch from Kang'oo to Mang'u will be designed to meet single rural road requirements, while the 14 km section will be designed as a dual carriageway from Mang'u junction to Thika City.
The entire project is set to be finished by June 2022
The project is expected to put an end to traffic snarl-ups that are currently experienced along this route, particularly in the Kiambu-Ngewa and Mang'u-Thika sections, due to an increased number of residential developments in the area. In addition, the project is expected to stimulate the growth of existing market centers along the road corridor and lead to increased job opportunities and economic activities for people living along the road.
