The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has unveiled the full scope of a proposed 180-kilometre Western Highway Project. The proposed highway project is expected to transform the economic and transport landscape of Western Kenya.
The mega highway infrastructure project will traverse five counties. These counties are: Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori. Additionally, it is expected to cost approximately Ksh70 billion.
Western Highway Project Factsheet
Project name: Lake Victoria Ring Road. It is commonly referred to as the Western Highway Project.
Developer: Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)
Estimated cost: Ksh70 Billion ($541 million)
Length: 180 kilometers
Significance of the Project
As revealed by KeNHA Nyanza Regional Director Julius MakOderoh, the road will be one of the largest infrastructure projects to be ever undertaken in the region. Furthermore, the road project will open up parts of the country that are currently underserved as many roads in the region are still in poor condition.
Which Routes will the Highway Pass?
The road will start in Bunyala, on the outskirts of Busia town, along the A12 (Mau Summit-Kericho-Busia Road). From there, it will head westward through Funyula Sub-county, with a spur road leading to Sio Port. It will then cut across the Yala Swamp, skirting its edges into Uyoma and offering another spur road to Osieko Beach and Luanda Kotieno in South Uyoma.
From Uyoma, the road will then proceed all the way to Asembo and Seme before rejoining the A12 which is near Kisumu International Airport. At Ahero, the route extends southward toward Katito and continues to Kendu Bay. This will make a 30-kilometre loop around the scenic Homa Hills before connecting to the B2 road at God Bondo, located approximately 10 kilometres from Homa Bay town.
From there, the road will then extend to Luanda Centre and adopt the B2 Homa Bay-Mbita route to Gwassi Hills. It will then extend for an additional120 kilometres all the to Muhuru Bay on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Facilities
The road will have a seven-metre-wide carriageway with two-metre-wide shoulders on either side in order to accommodate non-motorised traffic in rural areas.
In urban sections, where the road passes through trading centres, KeNHA has incorporated non-motorised transport (NMT) facilities. These facilities include footpaths and lined drains. The authority is currently seeking funding from development partners for the Lake Victoria Ring Road, with construction targeted for the next financial year.
