Uhuru
Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, accompanied by members of
his Cabinet, officially launched the commencement of the construction
of the Nairobi Outer Ring Road Improvement Project, jointly financed by
the African Development Bank and the Government of Kenya.
The
total cost of the rehabilitation of the Outer Ring Road is estimated at
UA 86.4 million (approximately USD 125.18 million), of which the
African Development Fund (ADF) is financing UA 77.6 million (equivalent
to USD 112.43 million), while the Kenya Government will contribute UA
8.8 million (or USD 12.75 million).
The
project involves the construction of a 13-kilometrelong dual highway to
traverse the northern and eastern districts of Nairobi city. It also
entails the construction of missing links covering about 16 km. Once
completed, the entire project will drastically decongest the environs of
the two districts, including arterial roads connecting Nairobi- Thika
Highway, Eastern Bypass, Northern Bypass, Mombasa Road, and the
Jomo-Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Speaking
at the ceremony, attended by a broad spectrum of stakeholders including
Members of Parliament and Nairobi County Government Officials as well
as thousands of residents of the Eastland suburb of Nairobi, the
Director for the African Development Bank’s East Africa Regional
Resource Centre (EARC), Gabriel Negatu, said that, after the
Nairobi-Thika Highway financed by the AfDB, the Nairobi Outer Ring Road
Improvement Project adds to the suite of bold initiatives guaranteed to
contribute to the modernization of the city of Nairobi. Upon completion,
the project will result in the transformation of the outer ring into a
four-lane highway, with interchanges and overpasses and construction of
link roads. Besides, the project will be fitted with foot paths, cycle
lanes as well as incorporate a nine-metre Bus Rapid corridor to be
constructed at a later stage.
The
Regional Director reiterated that the project will transform
livelihoods through the creation of sustainable opportunities in terms
of jobs and businesses. He also underscored the fact that the project is
designed to respond to Kenya’s shortage of relevant skills in artisans
and technicians mainly due to a mismatch in training and the labour
market needs.
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