Kenya’s New Transnational Highway Plan to Link Tanzania and South Sudan Gains Momentum
Kenya is plowing ahead with plans for a major trans-African highway that could shake up the way people and goods move around East Africa . The government is pretty excited about the proposed corridor which they say will connect Kenya to both Tanzania and South Sudan, finally opening up all those regions that have been stuck on the sidelines of major infrastructure projects.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen gave a rundown of the project at the weekend – Saturday May 2 – while talking to locals at a community event in Elgeyo Marakwet . And from the sound of it, this is a whole lot more than just another road – it’s a long-term play on regional integration – to get East Africa and it’s various economies all connected up.
Design Done, Focus Shifts to Funding and Rollout
Murkomen let it be known the design phase is complete and that now the focus is on turning all that nice design work into reality – finding the cash, the partnerships, and the manpower to get the thing built.
What he was saying in effect is the government isn’t starting from scratch. They’ve already done some of the heavy lifting – the groundwork’s been done and now it’s all about the nitty-gritty of construction.
A Route Cutting Across Key Regions
The planned highway is set to commence in Ainamoi, Kericho County, from there it’ll stretch across several bits of the North Rift including the Mbogo Valley, Lessos, Kondoo and Kamosor.
From there it will wind its way into Elgeyo Marakwet – touching down in Kapkitony, El Nino, Kalwal, Flouspar, and Emsea – before pushing further into Biretwo, Aror, Tot and Chesegon along the Chesombur-Kepase-Marich Pass corridor – a route that reads like a map of neglected areas.
These are areas that could soon see more movement, more business and maybe a whole new pace of life.
Connecting to South Sudan Through Turkana
But that’s not the end of the road – it continues on to Lodwar and then on to Nadapal – a key border point between Kenya and South Sudan – before linking up with Juba.
Murkomen put it plain and simple:
“That road from Ainamoi to Juba is one major highway that this government will build , and we’ve already done the design. We will have another branch of the Highway going through this place and it will be a key part of linking up some major agricultural areas,”
It’s a pretty bold promise and one that if it comes off will change trade routes in the region significantly.
Southern Branch to Link Kenya with Tanzania
There’s a second stretch of the highway in the south too. This one will run from Kericho right through Emurua Dikirr in Narok County & then cut across Narok to reach Kuria in Migori County.
From there it hits Isebania – the Kenya Tanzanian border – effectively tying Kenya’s road network tightly into Tanzania’s system.
The idea’s pretty straightforward – one continuous line linking three countries.
More Than a Road: Opening Up Forgotten Regions
Murkomen pointed out that the highway isn’t just about transport – it’s also about getting access (especially for rural areas that have really struggled with feeling isolated).
“This will be one of the new highways of the Kenyan road network – that is all part of the Singapore dream we are chasing under the BETA agenda of President Ruto,”
When he mentions the “Singapore dream” that’s referencing President William Ruto’s bigger economic vision – all about infrastructure driving growth.
Part of a Bigger Infrastructure Push
The announcement comes at a time when the government is getting ready to roll out a whole load of other big projects, like the expressway extension from Mau Summit to Malaba.
According to what President Ruto has been saying, tenders for that one are expected by the end of the year – which means we’ve got a busy period ahead for Kenya’s infrastructure people.
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Kenya’s New Transnational Highway Plan to Link Tanzania and South Sudan Gains Momentum
