
Kenya is set to upgrade sections of the road that connects the country to South Sudan as it further opens up northern Kenya.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) said it plans to construct two segments[1] of the road between Eldoret and Juba in South Sudan with a length of nearly 200 kilometres (Km).
The road has in the past been in a dilapidated state and also prone to banditry attacks that have seen many transporters moving cargo to and from Juba opt to use a longer route through Uganda.
KeNHA said it would spend Sh16 billion on building the 142km road between Morpus in West Pokot County – which is about 60Km from Kitale and Lokichar in Turkana County.
It will spend a further Sh6.6 billion on upgrading a 55km road between Lesseru in Uasin Gishu County and Kitale in Trans Nzoia County.
“The Lesseru–Juba (road) is the main corridor that provides the only road link to Turkana and West Pokot counties, all the way to South Sudan, serving people living in extreme poverty,” said KeNHA in an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment [2](ESIA) submitted to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), seeking approvals to build the road.
“The improvement of the corridor will help reduce regional development imbalance in Kenya as well as improve the environment for stimulating economic development in the area, including attracting private investment.”
The two roads form part of the 945km road from Eldoret to the Kenya-South Sudan border at Nakadok and onwards to Juba, cutting through Kitale, Kapenguria, Kainuk, Lodwar, Kakuma and other vital centres.
While the route is said to cut through a region with immense potential in areas such as tourism, livestock production as well as the fledgling oil sector, it has over the years been characterised by poor infrastructure and cattle rustling that has bred high incidences of insecurity.
Truckers and other motorists using the road have to be escorted by armed security when going past Kainuk trading centre.
This has made the key road unattractive[3] despite its potential to improve connectivity between Kenya and South Sudan. It has also made the delivery of goods to Lodwar and parts of Turkana County difficult and expensive.
“The project road is part of the international trunk road connecting South Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania … the section of this corridor that is within Kenya is about 900km long starting at Isebania at the border with Tanzania and ending at Nakadok at the border with South Sudan. The road intersects with other critical corridors including the Northern Corridor Highway at Webuye and the Lapsset Corridor at Lodwar,” said KeNHA.
The road was key in implementing the Early Oil Pilot Scheme, which required trucks to ferry oil produced at the Lokichar fields by road to Mombasa. KeNHA has upgraded the Lokichar-Nadapal road.
References
- ^ said it plans to construct two segments (www.standardmedia.co.ke)
- ^ Social Impact Assessment (www.standardmedia.co.ke)
- ^ This has made the key road unattractive (www.standardmedia.co.ke)
Newer articles:
- Drought to continue in Greater Horn of Africa, experts warn - 24/08/2022 00:00
- South Sudanese diplomat briefly held on rape charges in New York City - 23/08/2022 10:24
- Ebola outbreak: Disease re-emerges as fears grow protests may hamper WHO response - 23/08/2022 02:48
- After 'doomsday' floods, Sudanese fear worse to come - 23/08/2022 02:00
- United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) forum in remote Aliamtoc-1 sees spirited discussions on women’s role as peace brokers - 23/08/2022 00:00
Older news items
- Recent United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) peace concert in Aweil draws massive participation and useful debate - 22/08/2022 10:20
- Downfall of South Sudanese/Australian fashion model Anei Dut once named South Sudan's third most handsome man alive - 22/08/2022 10:05
- Sudan Declares State Of Emergency Due To Rain, Floods In Six States - 22/08/2022 02:13
- South Sudan: Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child - 20/08/2022 10:26
- 95 killed in South Sudan communal conflicts in July alone - 20/08/2022 02:58
Latest news items (all categories):
- The Collo Kingdom Remains Underdeveloped: Five Hundred Years Later! - 03/02/2025 12:57
- Attack on South Sudan cattle camps kills 35 - 03/02/2025 12:46
- في صفقة مثيرة.. الإمارات تشتري نفط الجنوب في باطن الأرض لمدة 20 عامًا - 03/02/2025 12:42
- South Sudan: Can oil production save the economy? - 30/01/2025 19:27
- 20 oil workers and crew die in South Sudan plane crash - 30/01/2025 19:20
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan government urged to enact national IDP protection law - 08/06/2020 06:35
- South Sudan imposes curfew after attempted coup - 16/12/2013 14:37
- South Sudan secures 7.2 mln USD from EU to support returnees - 19/11/2022 08:34
- AU objects to any unilateral actions of Abyei - 24/09/2013 23:48
- Riek Machar visits Portland, assures refugees of peace - 02/10/2015 22:28
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 68169 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22363 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21559 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 19226 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19201 times