Central Kenya’s New Sh 33B Superhighway Set to be Launched

Dummy of dual carriage highway. [Courtesy]
Central Kenya region is set to massively benefit from the 80km Murang’a-Nyeri highway that will be Kenya’s second most expensive road project after the Thika Superhighway.

The Government has advertised tenders for consultants to supervise the construction of the highway that is to cost taxpayers Sh30 billion.

The highway will run all way from Kenol Township in Murang’a county through Makutano and Sagana in Kirinyaga County and Kambiti in Machakos to Marua in Nyeri.

According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the expansion of the highway coded A2 is expected to have a major impact in the region, with at least four Mount Kenya counties getting expanded connection to Nairobi by an expressway.

The highway will form part of the African Development Bank (AfDB) financed Great North Highway that is expected to link Kenya to Ethiopia.

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A section of Thika Superhighway. PHOTO/COURTESY

Once the construction is done, it is expected to cut traveling time between Nyeri and Nairobi by at least one hour.

The highway construction is also expected to open up the northern corridor and create employment opportunities for thousands of residents from the region.

Some of the sectors expected to reap massive benefits from the highway are agriculture, tourism and small and medium-sized enterprises.The counties covered by the project mainly grow coffee, tea, potatoes, beans, maize and avocado.

A sign post by Kenha indicating where the dual carriageway will start in Kenol town
Road: A signpost by Kenha indicating where the dual carriageway will start in Kenol town .PHOTO/COURTESY

Completion of the highway will make it easier to move these farm produce to Nairobi and onward to Mombasa. Counties that stand to reap from the highway are Murang’a, which will have a dual carriageway traversing it, as well as Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Machakos and Embu.

KeNHA spokesman Joseph Kariuki says that Kiambu County will also be a major beneficiary after the reworking of exits into Thika town where the superhighway ends.

“The redesigned Thika Town exits will address a traffic gridlock that has become a permanent feature after the completion of the superhighway,”  he argued.

However, 800 households whose farms and property will be affected by the project have been identified for compensation by the National Land Commission.

A number of business premises, including those housing banks, petrol stations, electronic shops and eateries have been earmarked for demolition.

Traders with premises between Kenol and Makuyu markets, as well as Kambiti, Makutano and Sagana are on a one-month notice to vacate the road reserve.

 

 

 

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