Kenyan Government embarks on Sh8.5b Outer-ring Road works

Residents of Nairobi's Eastlands area are likely to pay slightly higher rents as the construction and dualling of Outer Ring Road commences. The development is expected to raise the value of property in Eastlands and surrounding areas.

Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has invited bids for the provision of consultancy services kicking off the construction project set to take three years. Construction of the road which starts from the Eastern bypass junction at Taj Mall up to Thika Road junction at GSU headquarters appears to be running behind schedule as it was supposed to have started three months ago.

The project is jointly funded by the Kenyan government and Africa Development Bank (AfDB) at a cost of Sh8.5 billion, with 11.5 per cent funding coming from the Government and 88.5 per cent being funded by the bank.

KURA is thus looking for a consultant to help develop a framework for a Road Asset Management System covering pavements, bridges, roadside furniture and slopes, and traffic control devices. The consultant will also help develop and implement a Road Maintenance Management System and an associated mapping system.

The tender for the construction of the 13-kilometre road was awarded to Chinese firm SinoHydro Corporation after a deal was signed in August last year.

Eastland's Outer-ring Road caters for the heavily-populated estates of Embakasi, Pipeline, Donholm, Tena, Umoja, Komarock and Kayole estates, among others. Over the years the road that feeds into Jogoo Road, has completely fallen apart as the number of residents and motor vehicles from the estates has grown over and above the capacity it was originally meant to carry.

This has contributed to traffic jams on Jogoo road that forced matatus to use alternative routes to get to Nairobi's central business district. The upgrading of the road is likely to see the value of property in Eastlands rise exponentially, as was witnessed after the construction of the Thika Highway.