Gov't Defends Sh900 Million Per Kilometer Nairobi-Mombasa Superhighway to be Built by US Company
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has defended the cost of the 466-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway to be constructed by Bechtel, a US-based engineering company.
The mega infrastructure will cost 380 billion shillings, translating to about Sh900 million per kilometer - high coast per km compared to other roads of similar stature in the region.
Some experts have raised questions on why the country would spend this much on a road that is running parallel to the old Nairobi-Mombasa highway and the recently constructed Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), terming it unnecessary.
The expressway will have 48 kilometers of interchanges, 76 overpasses, 21 underpasses, 189 kilometers of local roads and 189 culverts. It will be a toll road with motorists being allowed to cruise with speed of up to 120 kilometers per hour.
Two weeks ago, President Kenyatta said infrastructure development is key to driving the country's economic progress.
“All this costs money. Your taxes have paid for clear, tangible progress; this development trajectory will propel our country to new heights of prosperity,” said the President.
However questions continue to pop up over the huge price variation in construction of the roads.
“Road construction costs, like all major infrastructure projects, are being held hostage by among other reasons single sourcing of contractors in questionable government to government deals and kickbacks,” says economics lecturer Dr Samuel Nyandemo.
“Otherwise, why would there be a huge difference between the costs of a road constructed in Kenya and its neighbours?” he asks.
For instance, the newly opened 25.8 kilometre Dongo Kundu bypass in Mombasa was constructed at Sh1.5 billion per kilometer. In neighboring Ethiopia a 200-km Modjo-Hawassa Expressway, which is similar to the Nairobi-Mombasa one will cost Sh350 million per kilometer.
This is a difference of a whooping Sh550 million but the government maintains it is a matter of design.
“You can go to a shop and find one suit costing Sh10,000 and you go to another and find another suit costing a million shillings. You need to look at the road designs first,” says Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.
“Ask yourself what does the Western Bypass involve in terms of design and engineering. It has seven interchanges. We have also done roads whose cost per kilometre is less than Sh30 million,” adds Macharia, a position backed by Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA).
“The project designs have been evolving along with the costs,” KeNHA Director David Muchilwa said.
Comments (36)
Kenyans don't want anymore of these projects.
My opinion is: The US Company needs to do Kenyans a Favor and Confirm or Negate this Price Tag.
They are all goons....when they start talking about the terrain...escalation... and type of materials used....we'll get done again.
The only project they should be embarking on is building new prisons somewhere in Turkana. One for men, another for women,for all politicians and anyone else who has engaged in white color crime. They would be working out in the sun all day long planting maize and perhaps beans. Carpentry and knitting would be encouraged.
This government has no credible vision. We will have super highways with no citizens to use them. How can we start new highways when we have citizens dying in hospitals, mismanagement of resources, citizens consuming plastic rice, rotten fish, sugar with mercury. We need to have our priorities in place. Dynasties need to complete their term and retire. They are done. God help Kenya!!
They first recover all the billions wired foreign countries. Why would they allow a speed of 120KPH!. That will be a suicidal. What about the authority vehicles!... American most speed limit on highway is 60KPH and the highest 80PPH.. Not forgetting the highway will be a long the National Park with wild animals.
Altogether if all the stolen money this can be possible and not to accumulate debts.
137 Km/H (85 mph) in Texas. https//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_the_United_States
60MPH in USA is equivalent to 100KM/h while 80MPH is like 130KM/h 1 Mile = 1.6KM the speed iko 120KM/h sawa but zile gari zimo maintenance pekee ni shida (Most of them) at that speed na matope ( African snow) iyo barabara superhighway itakuwa bure with debris of parts all over tire punctures we are in developing country it will be expensive to maintain it.
Well, you got the math part wrong . In US they don’t use KMP, they use MPH and it’s usually around 60 mph which is about 96 kmp
Foreign cars in the US have both Miles and Kilometers showing on Speed gauge. So I think Romeo3 is Right by just trying to make a Relative or Comparative point saying 1 Mile = 1.6 Km.
Liar.
Lord have mercy on Kenya. This government will not stop until we're all dead and finished
We cannot afford to pay our current debts to China but obviously we haven't learnt anything from that. Now we go borrowing more billions from USA? Kenyans should expect to pay higher taxes for these white elephants. At what point will Kenyans say enough is enough?
Kenyans need your help....come show us how to say enough is enough. I guess we all want to, but don't know how.
Somebody is trying to appease Trump. This highway going to cost Kenyans more than any short term profits Kenya Airways flying in the US could at least in the short term. KQ WOULD have to be able to fly into Miami,Orlando,Dalla,Los Angeles,Houston,Chicago, to balance this transaction out.
This is another scandal in the making,900 million per km, kwani inajengwa kwa hewa? Wembe ni ule ule aka tano terror.
This is another scandal in the making,900 million per km, kwani inajengwa kwa hewa? Wembe ni ule ule aka tano terror.
Sh900 million per kilometer? That is daylight robbery. Hata haya hawana
This is Quite Pathetic...when will our own dear country earn such huge tenders in these white countries...even if it's for the supply of makondofears?
It's time for our leaders to learn of Zambia take over by the Chinese. The Chinese are about to take over ZESCO in Zambia, and Zambia's International Airport. Who will take over our Airport and Mombasa port in the name of Super Highways? Kenya is for sale to the highest bidder by the Dynasties. Kenya is next by the Chinese. God help Kenya!!
America bringing corruption in Kenya big time charging that much money.Please America Wr trying to fight corruption n yet u r bringing more corruption n yet Kenyans wazungus who live in USA always yap USA Hakuna corruption n impunity.Then u can see it yourself juu this company is American n it’s the one charging that much money.Corruption corruption need to b fought right left.If it’s private public partnership then the highway can b build then waweke tolls to recover their cash.Or they can b given railway extension from naivasha to maraba.Educated fools
Jubilee will never stop borrowing.
The people giving them have to stop.
But Uhuru and Ruto will borrow until Kenyans start paying 100% Tax.
It’s a sickness.They are bewitched.
Allocate more money in judicially to help procecute corrupt individuals and Speed up any pending cases,,,
@Diana this American company is overcharging per kilometre n yet the same Americans always yap they r # 1 in fighting corruption all over the world n yet we can witness this is pure corruption.Corruption impunity bin practiced in high levels here by Americans n yet the Diasporas who always yap yap corruption in Kenya is rampant here in mwakilishi r keeping quite.Call a spade a spade without choosing.This is pure corruption from this American company.
Corruption is corruption is corruption.
Now you want us to shut-up because there is corruption in America...ati sasa tumetoshana...tuko sawa...tuko equal?????
We are Kenyans, we call it out on Kenya, OUR MOTHERLAND.....we only care about the US when it aids the evil on our country...
Two evils don't make it right! Okay mr. single vision?
am no longer proud to be a kenyan
Out of 900 million per kilometers.. Over 500 goes to officials pockets... Corruption will kill kenya as a nation... Not because the costs are too high but the corruption is too high...bora uhai
It doesn't make any sense having a mega project like this parallel to the SGR. Actually focus should be on the A104 highway from Nairobi to Nakuru, Eldoret and further to Malaba.... There is over investment between Mombasa and Nairobi.
The road is been built by competent Americans thats why the cost is high ... we can use our local fundis who are paid ksh 1100 per day na mtu wa mkono ksh 600 per day .. they can complete the job in 30yrs and we start repairing the pot holes ... Pay the Americans or Chinese good money .. they complete high quality projects in record time ... The only thing africans know how to do is eat eat eat public funds na kunyambanyamba ovyo ovyo ta miguruki ... daimono ici
South Africa and India has better medical services why Cuba?
I think it is time we Kenyans think not only outside but also inside the box. If we need to grow in terms of infrastructure we need to give in to something.... even if the government officials pocket 500 million all we want is by the end of the day to see the road being through and at the best condition..
When Chinese charge billions building sgr pple in Diaspora yap nyep it’s corruption but when the Americans charge billions they r quite n those who r yapping r stating they r competent.Thats how many of us are hypocritical brainwashed by the Americans wazungus coz we don’t want to critisize them coz we worship them?Bure kabisa.
This Gover is 2much no one 2 do what was done 2 Mugabe? I voted 4 RAO bt he's been bought. whom did we turn to?
mtaamka
The Kenyan government is one of the most corrupt government in the world. I guess the Americans want a piece of this corrupt money just like the Chinese. Poor Kenyans. Soon the whole country will be owned by foreign investors. Corruption, corruption, corruption. Wake up good people.
Acheni trying to look smart by complaining.
This is brilliant and the toll charges will pay for it..
The Safety in dual way is ten fold to the one of single lane. .
the ones that drive on that road knows what I mean.
This is good news.
PERIOD.