NAIROBI, Kenya – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has allocated $1.4 million (Sh3.7 billion) for the feasibility studies of the Kisumu-Uganda expressway, a crucial step in upgrading the Northern Corridor to a two-lane dual carriageway.
This project aims to facilitate trade and services across the East African region. According to the AfDB, the studies will assess the economic viability of upgrading existing road sections to expressway standards.
Aguer Ariik, the EAC Deputy Secretary General overseeing Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors, mentioned during a site handover ceremony in Kisumu that the feasibility study is expected to last 18 months.
He elaborated on the scope, stating, “it will involve rehabilitation of the existing two-lane single-carriageway to bitumen standards.”
The current roads in the project area are heavily congested, leading to increased travel times and higher vehicle operating costs.
The objective of the feasibility study is to determine if upgrading these sections to expressway standards is economically viable.
This project is a priority for the Partner States and is seen as crucial for regional development.
“The studies will be carried out as one integrated project but in two distinct packages to determine the economic feasibility of developing the corridors that connect the two countries to the main international port of Mombasa,” Ariik explained.
The rehabilitation of the Northern Corridor is expected to enhance road infrastructure within the EAC region, promoting regional integration and facilitating cross-border trade.
Godfrey Enzama, Principal Civil Engineer at the EAC Secretariat, emphasized that besides improving transport flow, the project will address road safety issues along the corridor.
Luka Kameli, representing the Principal Secretary at Kenya’s Ministry of EAC, ASALs, and Regional Development, highlighted the economic benefits of upgrading the expressway, including improvements in imports, exports, mining, and fresh farm produce businesses.
