KENYA SECURE US$746.8MILLION FOR ISIOLO-MANDERA ROAD UPGRADE

Kenya Government has secure a loan worth US$746.8m(Sh81billion) from the World Bank for the upgrading of Isiolo-Mandera road.

The 750-kilometre Isiolo-Mandera road is aimed at improving the movement of people and goods, digital connectivity and access to social services for over 3.2 million people living in the North-Eastern region where the Isiolo-Mandera Regional Road Corridor traverses.

Speaking to the media, Kenya’s World Bank Country Director Keith Hansen said “The World Bank will finance the upgrading of 365 kilometers of the 740-kilometers Isiolo-Mandera Regional Road Corridor and 30km of spur roads, while the upgrading of the remaining sections will be financed by other development partners.”

Meanwhile, the loan will finance the scheme dubbed the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP). This will further help in the laying of a fiber optic cable along the entire 740-kilometer corridor with spurs to local communities.

Hansen also noted that the project will attract investments, facilitate regional and domestic trade, create jobs, and improve information sharing and access to internet-based opportunities.

It is reported that the project will be the first of its series that is aimed at supporting the development of regional transport corridors and modal linkages under the Horn of Africa Initiative. Furthermore, it is expected that the Kenya-HoAGDP will take 6 years of implementation.

The Fund is gotten from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) that helps the world’s poorest countries. IDA help does countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives.

Source: CapitalFM

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