The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has just received funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) that will be utilised in funding of the Kenya-South Sudan Road Construction works, which is part of the Multinational South Sudan Corridor.
According to a notice that was published on Tuesday, March 12, KeNHA stated that the secured funds would be utilised to fund the upgrade works of the Lesseru-Kitale and Morpus-Lokichar road sections.
Kenya-South Sudan Road Construction Project Factsheet
Significance:
- To improve transport connectivity between Kenya and South Sudan.
- To deepen regional integration and trade.
- To facilitate the movement of people and goods.
- To boost socio-economic development.
Location:
- The road corridor runs from Lesseru to Nadapal and Kapoeta, and finally to Juba in South Sudan.
- In Kenya, it traverses through the North-Western region, and sections of the project include Lesseru-Kitale and Morpus-Lokichar road sections.
Length:
- 193-kilometer road corridor.
Key Features on the Road Development Project:
- Upgrade of existing road sections.
- Civil works for the construction of a single-carriageway road, approximately seven meters wide.
- Recarpeting of the highway with bitumen.
- Construction of service roads, town loop roads, and access roads.
- Development of selected socio-economic infrastructure.
Funding:
- Financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Development Fund.
- Also with involvement from the world bank, through the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP)
Developer:
- Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
Regional Significance:
- Forms part of the larger Lesseru-Nadapal-Kapoeta-Juba corridor.
- Contributes to the Trans-African Highway vision, linking East Africa with West Africa.
- Part of the larger LAPSSET(Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport) Corridor project.
Climate Resilience:
- The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is working to mainstream climate adaptation and resilience into the project.
- This involves assessing climate hazards and implementing solutions to increase the road’s resilience.
Also read: Kenya Secures $215 Million El Wak-Rhamu Road Construction Funding
Scope of the Road Project
The 193-kilometer road corridor project links Kenya to South Sudan across the Great Rift Valley. This multi national road runs all the way from Lesseru to Nadapal and Kapoeta, and finally enters Juba in South Sudan.
“The Government of Kenya has just gotten funding from the African Development Bank and African Development Fund that will be utilised to fund the Multinational Kenya-South Sudan Road Corridor Lesseru-Kitale and Morpus-Lokichar Road Upgrading Project Phase 1,” KeNHA mentioned in the statement.
“The Project Road, Lesseru-Kitale and Morpus-Lokichar Road Sections are a part of Lesseru-Nadapal-Kapoeta-Juba Corridor that is located in the North-Western part of Kenya.
Significance of the Project
KeNHA revealed that this project is expected to improve transport therefore enhancing connectivity between Kenya and South Sudan. This aspect will eventually lead to the deepening of both regional integration and trade.
Also read: Kenyan Company Awarded Madagascar’s Multi-Billion Dollar Antananarivo-Toamasina Road Project
According to the documents by the Global Centre on Adaptations, it was revealed that African Development Bank had disbursed a total of Ksh.28 billion for the development of the road project.
