Published 07/21/2010 - 6:06 a.m. KDT
By James Anyanzwa
Eastandard.net
Kenya has received a loan of Sh810 million ($10 million) from the Arab
Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Badea).
The proceeds of the loan agreement will co-finance the construction of
the Nuno-Modogashe road in the northern part of the country.
The other co-financiers of the project, which is estimated to cost Sh8.1
billion ($100 million) include Abu Dhabi Fund ($10 million), Kuwait
Fund ($20 million), Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) Fund ($12 million) and Saudi Fund ($25 million).
The Government is expected to contribute $23 million towards the project.
"The main objective of the project is to open up the Northern region to the rest of the country and at the same
time enhance livestock production and provide a stimulant to socio-economic activities in Northern Kenya,"
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta told reporters after signing the loan agreement
in Nairobi yesterday.
International highway
Mr Uhuru said the Government will extend the Nuno-Modogashe road to Mandera town at the border of Kenya
and Ethiopia and make the road an international highway that will enhance trade between the two countries.
The Nuno-Modogashe road, which measures 146 km long, traverses northern Kenya, a rich pastorist hinterland
that produces 65 per cent of livestock and livestock products in Kenya.
"The Government is committed to doing roads in the country," said Roads Minister Franklin Bett.
To date, Badea has spent Sh9.2 billion in Kenya since its inception in 1975. Uhuru said infrastructure has been
identified as critical to spurring economic growth under the vision 2030 economic blueprint.One year after financing of this road i expected the works to have commenced but it seems to be taking too long(146 km would be a welcome addition to our road network)

One year after financing of this road i expected the works to have commenced but it seems to be taking too long(146 km would be a welcome addition to our road network)

So the project has not even started?lol.

Sorry for the long post but i can smell politics in this project, the way it has been deferred makes me think it may be revived sometimes near the general election.
GARISSA-MANDERA/WAJIR-MOYALE ROADSMr. Keynan asked the Minister for Roads:-
(a) why it has taken so long to tarmac Isiolo – Wajir – Mandera,
Garissa-Wajir-Mandera and Wajir-Moyale roads in North Eastern
Province; and,
(b) when the roads will be tarmacked.
The Minister for Roads (Mr. Bett): Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to
reply.
(a) It has taken long to tarmac the mentioned roads in North Eastern Province
because of the extent of works required and the costs involved.
(b) My Ministry has completed the designs for upgrading of the roads and is now
sourcing for funds from development partners.
As I stated earlier on the Floor of this House on 15th June, 2010, we have already
received firm commitments from a consortium of development partners on tarmacking of
Modika-Nuno-Modogashe section of Garissa-Wajir Road during the Financial Year,
2010/2011.
Mr. Keynan: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is the third time this
Question has appeared on the Order Paper and unfortunately the answer has remained the
same. I have the HANSARD report of 14th April, 2010 where the then Assistant Minister,
Dr. Machage, gave the same answer. The Chair directed that the answer was not
satisfactory and the Assistant Minister requested to be given two months but it is now
almost three months and the answer has remained the same. I seek the indulgence of the
Chair on this matter.
Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the same matter, in the last financial
year’s Budget Speech made by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Item
52 reads:-
“With regard to the development of Northern Kenya and other arid lands, we plan
to undertake numerous interventions in the region. Key projects include Isiolo-
Modogashe-Garissa-Wajir Road at the cost of Kshs1.2 billion.”
What happened to the Kshs1.2 billion? He should tell us how the Kshs1.2 billion
has been utilized. I still have the HANSARD report about what the Assistant Minister
told Parliament in April. This bit was not explained. We will then proceed to the planning
and other bits.
The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ethuro): Order, Mr. Keynan! Ask your
question.
Mr. Keynan: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to know whether
it is right for the Minister to wait for four months, come back to the House and give the
same answer? Does this not constitute a disorderly conduct by the Minister, although he
was not the person who answered the Question the other time? This is under Standing
Order No.97.
The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ethuro): Order, Mr. Keynan! Let us hear
from the Minister first before you proceed. This is especially on the money allocated by
the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in the last Budget. I think that is a
valid question.
Mr. Bett: Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. The hon. Member has
said that the answer has not changed. I have indicated that I have received a confirmed
agreement from a financier for that road and that must be a change. I have already signed
an agreement for funding for the construction of that road. This will be done by the
OPEC at the cost of US$12 million. I am waiting to sign an agreement with four others
for the same road. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance has told me that
he is finalizing the agreements and we will sign them very soon.
With regard to the Kshs1.2 billion mentioned by the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Finance, the same was not placed in the Printed Estimates of the Ministry of
Roads. Therefore, it was not money available to us to utilise for the construction of that
road or any other road in the Republic.
Mr. Abdirahman: Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister
has said that there is a consortium of development partners; I believe it is a number of
them. He just mentioned the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). We
can only accept this as a commitment when we know who all of them are; because there
is a stretch of about 800 kilometres between Garissa and Mandera. Could the Minister tell
us who the other development partners are, the amount of monies that are expected, the
extent of works that are expected to be covered and how long? Could he combine this and
give us an answer in one statement?
Mr. Bett: Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. That is a good
question. The other development partners are Arab Bank for Economic Development in
Africa (BADEA)Padea whom we are waiting to sign with dollars 10,000,000. The others
are Saudi Arabia Fund. We are waiting to sign with them dollars 16,000,000, Abu Dhabi
Fund - dollars 10,000,000, and Kuwait Fund - dollars 20,000,000. I cannot, therefore,
indicate when this work will begin but there will be tarmacking of that road soonest.
These agreements are all consummated and we will also factor in our budget our
contribution as a Government.
Mr. Bahari: On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. You
heard the Minister just before this saying that the Kshs1.2 billion that the Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Finance mentioned here had not been factored in the Printed
Estimates of his Ministry. Since this House cannot be taken for a ride, since Kenyans
cannot be taken for a ride, will I be in order then to request you to direct the Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance to come here and explain why he told everybody
including this House and the public at large that he is going to do this, yet he was not
prepared or tell us what happened to that?
The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ethuro): Hon. Bahari, you have a valid
point but I do not think the Minister was misleading the House. Therefore, it is not a
point of order for now. I am sure there are relevant departmental committee that can still
engage the Minister for Finance on that matter.
Mr. Imanyara; Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, that road that serves the
Northern corridor actually begins in Meru. It is a region that has been neglected for a
very long time. One only needs to visit Addis Ababa and see the road from there, and
then compare it with the road coming all the way from the Kenyan border to realize the
significance and the economic benefits that will accrue to this country if this road is done.
Arising out of the Minister’s answer and bearing in mind that he is part and parcel of the
collective responsibility of the Government, could he explain why he made no request for
inclusion of the estimates from the Kshs1.2 billion, because it is a condition of any
international consortium that the Government commits itself to a certain amount before
they can sign any agreement? Is it not a deception to tell the country that he will be
giving Kshs1.2 billion which is a necessity before the consortium signs the others when
you know you have no intention of doing that? Are we not being taken for a ride just like
yesterday where we saw the money allocated to roads on equal basis but being given---?
The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ethuro): Order, Mr. Imanyara! What is
the question?
Mr. Imanyara: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, bearing in mind that there is
collective responsibility on the part of the Government, when will the Kshs1.2 billion be
included in the Estimates?
Mr. Bett: Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Collective
responsibility has not evaporated at all. I have already assured the House that once these
agreements between us and the development partners have been fully consummated, they
are fully signed, we have all agreed; I see no difficulty whatsoever on the part of the
Government to mind its own section of the funding.
Mr. Imanyara: The issue I raised was that this signing is dependent on the
Government’s commitment of Kshs1.2 billion. Is the Minister then not telling us that this
is unlikely to happen any time soon, bearing in mind that the Kshs1.2 billion commitment
by the Government is not forthcoming?
(Minister Bett stood in his place)
The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ethuro): Order, Mr. Minister! I think the
Members are raising a valid point. You have confirmed that the Kshs1.2 billion in the
budget speech was not in your printed estimates and so they are asking; what is the fate
of that kind of money? You have also admitted after the partners come, you will also
have the Government contribution but you have not stated how much.
Mr. Bett: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to indicate that the Kshs1.2
billion was supposed to have been in the Printed Estimates of 2009/2010 not 2010/2011
financial year. So those are two different financial years. I want to indicate that that
financial year is now behind us and we are now looking at the new financial year
2010/2011.
The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ethuro): Order, Mr. Minister! The
financial year is not even behind us. We are just concluding it today. Today is 30th June,
2010, and so it is still very valid. More importantly, it is about the road and the money
had been allocated. The House would like to know what happened to the money.
Mr. Bett: I want to again indicate that it was in the statement and not in the
Printed Estimates. Hence, it was not available to me to spend.
Mr. Affey: On a point of order Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. This matter
has come to the House many times before. Actually, for the last three years, this Question
has appeared almost every other time. The Minister has just confirmed that they have
some support from development partners. We are very skeptical about that answer and
the fact that this money might be diverted. Would I be in order to ask the Minister to lay
on the Table the records of the partners that they have already engaged with so that we
can believe what the Minister is telling the country that indeed they have gone that far?

Could he lay on the Table what he has so that we could believe what he is telling the
country? When will he complete this road? It has taken the Kenya Government 40 years
to do this. Could he give us the timeline?
Mr. Bett: These are documents that have not been signed so I cannot table
documents which have not been consummated at all.
The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ethuro): Order, hon. Members! I think if
you recall, initially, the Member said that this Question has been on the Order Paper
several times. The Chair is satisfied that the answer is inadequate and requires maybe the
Minister even to consult the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance on the fate
of that money. Surely, that statement was made in this House. I, therefore, order that this
Question be deferred and I request the Member and the Ministers concerned to consult
each other. W`hen they are ready, then we will put it in the Order Paper.
(Question deferred)
Mr. Bett: Much obliged, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

And the game of musical chairs continues. C'mon we want to explore the unexplored;who is not proud of loitokitok these days. We need these places to be opened up!
By Athman AmranThe Saudi Government has approved an over Sh1.6 billion loan to Kenya for the construction of the 146km Nuno-Modagashe road that will run between Garissa and Mandera towns.

Saudi Ambassador to Kenya Ghorm Said Malhan said the Saudi government is also set to give Kenya another Sh1.2 billion to fund five power projects. Adding that the money would be sourced from the Saudi Fund for Development.

The ambassador was speaking during the marking of the 80th anniversary of the Unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at a Nairobi hotel on Thursday evening.

The total construction of the Nuno-Modagashe road is estimated at Sh8 billion with a total of Sh5.36 billion to be procured from loans from the Saudi Fund, the Kuwait Fund, the OPEC fund and the Abu-Dhabi Fund.

*The first phase of the project was expected to begin in Garissa last year.

Malhan said most of Saudi assistance to Kenya is directed towards development of infrastructure, water, irrigation and agriculture. He said the power projects will be done in five different locations in the country.
* And then?

poor reporting indeed.

Hi friends, just joined.

Seeming to remember one thing: Uhuru Kenyatta signed an agreement with the Kuwaitis in Sept 2010, worth about USD 20 million, which should have been enough for at least 20 to 30 kilometers. Since then, very pregnant silence from the government.

Sadly, NEP is the only province in Kenya yet to experience the Kibaki touch. I travelled to Nyanza last week through RVP, and I can tell you I didn't see a road that wasn't either re-done or was in the process.

Karibu to the forum Arzedu.

Don't feel alone Arzedu, I believe Western Province has not seen much road improvement work just like NEP, but I believe both have several projects under consideration and NEP will benefit immensely from the pending Lamu-Ethiopia-Sudan Corridor project. Most of us here were told to wait our turn as most projects began in Central and Nairobi; it's the usual politics at work.

Hi friends, just joined.

Seeming to remember one thing: Uhuru Kenyatta signed an agreement with the Kuwaitis in Sept 2010, worth about USD 20 million, which should have been enough for at least 20 to 30 kilometers. Since then, very pregnant silence from the government.

Sadly, NEP is the only province in Kenya yet to experience the Kibaki touch. I travelled to Nyanza last week through RVP, and I can tell you I didn't see a road that wasn't either re-done or was in the process.

kwani when do these contracts begin...

kwani when do these contracts begin...

hahaha... Simple but a crucial question

Hi friends, just joined.

Seeming to remember one thing: Uhuru Kenyatta signed an agreement with the Kuwaitis in Sept 2010, worth about USD 20 million, which should have been enough for at least 20 to 30 kilometers. Since then, very pregnant silence from the government.

Sadly, NEP is the only province in Kenya yet to experience the Kibaki touch. I travelled to Nyanza last week through RVP, and I can tell you I didn't see a road that wasn't either re-done or was in the process.

After constant delays in the start of works, i can only hypothesize that probably they want to pool all the finances needed for this project before award of contracts. thinking of what for example the latest loan(1.6 billion) can cover in terms of kilometres i would wish they award many short contracts(lengthwise say 20km,30km) instead of awaiting funding to cover the whole project(146km).

After constant delays in the start of works, i can only hypothesize that probably they want to pool all the finances needed for this project before award of contracts. thinking of what for example the latest loan(1.6 billion) can cover in terms of kilometres i would wish they award many short contracts(lengthwise say 20km,30km) instead of awaiting funding to cover the whole project(146km).

@Dhuks, I no longer wonder why there are such delays in doing roads, when the fact is that the government is really not interested in turning around the economic fortunes of NEP. If you check carefully, you will realise that during Kibaki's (so far) almost ten years in power, he has done an astounding 9kms of roads in NEP! Much worse than Moi, if you ask me. Even simple single-seal tarmac urban roads within Garissa, Wajir, Mandera have never been done: the last time this was ever done was in 1972, under Kenyatta! And I thought NEP was the only "sufferer" until last week when I drove from Mombasa to Miritini on my way to Nairobi, and I was truly horrified at the state of the "road" - I gnashed my teeth in disbelief that a road as important as Nairobi-Mombasa could be in this state of disrepair!

Hey folks, just back from a daunting trip to Wajir, on the Garissa-Mandera "highway". It has been raining the last few days, and it is an absolute nightmare navigating the many bogs and swamps on the way. No contractor on site yet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69124719@N07/6285443224/in/photostream

Flickr photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/69124719@N07/6285443224/in/photostream

Need some help folks! I have some photos that I want to share, but seemingly cant get 'em uploaded. Tnx in advance.

Need some help folks! I have some photos that I want to share, but seemingly cant get 'em uploaded. Tnx in advance.

Rightclick on the photo you want to upload, click on properties, copy the image url come back to where you write the comments to ssc. Above it there is an icon with the caption 'insert image', click on it and insert the url that you had copied from your photo. Am assuming they are already uploaded to flickr.
is this the photo that you wanted to upload?
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6285443224_3470566fe5_b.jpg

[QUOTE=
is this the photo that you wanted to upload?
[/QUOTE]

Yes, indeed, thanks a bunch Dhuks, that is one of the three I wanted to upload. Cheers!

Yes, indeed, thanks a bunch Dhuks, that is one of the three I wanted to upload. Cheers!

upload the others to get into the groove. looks a good road to me though it deserves to be tarmacked.
BTW It doesnt appear to be gravelled either, is that the case?

The Garissa-Mandera road is about 750kms long, and is mainly ungravelled all the way (about 9kms of the road is tarmacked; KeNHA says they will tarmac 22kms this year - only the Lord knows when they will fully have it tarmacked, despite the economic importance).

During the long dry spell it is navigable by any off-roader, including soft-roaders like X-Trails etc. But the 4 months or so during the year when it rains is a different story all together!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/69124719@N07/6284922277/in/photostream/

The Garissa-Mandera road is about 750kms long, and is mainly ungravelled all the way (about 9kms of the road is tarmacked; KeNHA says they will tarmac 22kms this year - only the Lord knows when they will fully have it tarmacked, despite the economic importance).

During the long dry spell it is navigable by any off-roader, including soft-roaders like X-Trails etc. But the 4 months or so during the year when it rains is a different story all together!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/69124719@N07/6284922277/in/photostream/

I knew it was not tarmacked but i was of the opinion that it is murramed. The govt should really fast-track this road like it is doing with isiolo-moyale. You still have issues uploading?

I knew it was not tarmacked but i was of the opinion that it is murramed. The govt should really fast-track this road like it is doing with isiolo-moyale. You still have issues uploading?

Spot on @Dhuks on both accounts. Yes, it is mainly un-murramed, the entire length of it, except for less than a handful places (bogs) not more than 30kms in all where they put murram.

And yes, still having problems (you may have seen the photo I was trying to upload). Must be my rapidly advancing age.:nuts:

Spot on @Dhuks on both accounts. Yes, it is mainly un-murramed, the entire length of it, except for less than a handful places (bogs) not more than 30kms in all where they put murram.

And yes, still having problems (you may have seen the photo I was trying to upload). Must be my rapidly advancing age.:nuts:

I can upload it for you but that beats the purpose. You are quoting the url for the photostream(collection of photos) instead of the url for single photo. right click on one photo(one of the three on the right) and do it again. and pls preview before posting

I see @ Dhuks, finally got the hang of it! Ok, here is one straight stretch just after Garissa town
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6284922115_b96cdeb4ae.jpg

Then a big bad-looking bog just before Wajir ... A lot of cars end up getting stuck here for eons. Incidentally, it is an area famed for the number of lions marauding around, looking for an easy meal.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6284922277_4628b609e4.jpghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/69124719@N07/6284922115/

That is a bad road.if you can even call it a road.

Looks like a farm/swamp!

Ernest, incidentally the media in Kenya call this piece of mud the "Garissa-Mandera" highway. I was there this week, and there was virtually no traffic on the road simply because no one can dare move during the rainy season - same case just like the KDF, they are unable to move on to Kismayu or even access Liboi Kenya from Garissa!

Some one more shot below:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6289337272_d722eda6eb.jpg

Ernest, incidentally the media in Kenya call this piece of mud the "Garissa-Mandera" highway. I was there this week, and there was virtually no traffic on the road simply because no one can dare move during the rainy season - same case just like the KDF, they are unable to move on to Kismayu or even access Liboi Kenya from Garissa!

Some one more shot below:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6289337272_d722eda6eb.jpg

I think I now understand why people take days on the road when travelling to north eastern.

I think I now understand why people take days on the road when travelling to north eastern.



The urgent need of a proper highway to Wajir, Mandera cannot be gainsaid. It is urgent. Then Mandera - Moyale - Lokichogio. That would make all Kenyans really feel they belong. What steps are being taken to ensure this is happening?

The urgent need of a proper highway to Wajir, Mandera cannot be gainsaid. It is urgent. Then Mandera - Moyale - Lokichogio. That would make all Kenyans really feel they belong. What steps are being taken to ensure this is happening?

You are right, these people too need to feel Kenyan, and not only that: I believe that these roads should be tarmacked in the interest of national security and to give the Kenyans on this side of the nation the economic opportunities that their compatriots from the other regions take as a right.

Just to contextualise, driving on this Garissa-Mandera "highway" is like driving on dirt road from Mombasa all the way to Eldoret, without seeing an inch of tarmac! It is exactly that long!

I think I now understand why people take days on the road when travelling to north eastern.

@Kenguy, good to see you are in the picture. From Nairobi to Garissa is about 400kms of a fairly good paved road, done in 1996-1998. More than a decade later, most of the road is in good condition.

But from Garissa to Wajir and then to Mandera is a nightmare. So is Garissa-Isiolo road, Wajir-Isiolo and Wajir-Moyale as well as Mandera-Moyale. Not one has an inch of tarmac, and they are all mainly un-gravelled. Like right now, you cannot attempt any of these roads, and prices of commodities have shot through the roof. Traditionally these areas have traded with Somalia and had some of the lowest food prices in Africa, but not because of the KDF action there is zilch commerce going on.

@Kenguy, good to see you are in the picture. From Nairobi to Garissa is about 400kms of a fairly good paved road, done in 1996-1998. More than a decade later, most of the road is in good condition.

But from Garissa to Wajir and then to Mandera is a nightmare. So is Garissa-Isiolo road, Wajir-Isiolo and Wajir-Moyale as well as Mandera-Moyale. Not one has an inch of tarmac, and they are all mainly un-gravelled. Like right now, you cannot attempt any of these roads, and prices of commodities have shot through the roof. Traditionally these areas have traded with Somalia and had some of the lowest food prices in Africa, but not because of the KDF action there is zilch commerce going on.

I have a feeling we will get to see these roads tarmacked. I can imagine what goes on through the mind of someone visiting Nairobi from Mandera using this road...after the torture of using this non existent road then entering Nairobi via Thika road.

If all these regions get opened up, imagine the growth rates Kenya will record.

I have a feeling we will get to see these roads tarmacked. .

Question is how soon? If you just add the monies committed so far for this project, you can clearly see that the govt is not prioritising linking up with somalia. They dont need to wait till money for the whole road is accumulated otherwise the cost will continue shooting through the roof. IT CAN BE DONE IN LOTS!

Question is how soon? If you just add the monies committed so far for this project, you can clearly see that the govt is not prioritising linking up with somalia. They dont need to wait till money for the whole road is accumulated otherwise the cost will continue shooting through the roof. IT CAN BE DONE IN LOTS!

True, they dont have to do the 750kms in one go! At the current levels of KSh 100m a kilometer charged by the Chinese and the good local contractors, it will cost upwards of KSh 70B to do the whole lot. My understanding is now they (GoK) have about $30m committed and received so far (from the Saudis and the Kuwaitis), with which they can do about 50kms or so. GoK can raise something for another 150kms from its own resources (Fuel Levy); that will take the road from Garissa past Modogashe (an ancient trading town, which has great potential for commerce).

Or they can decide to use the NYS (which is now tarmacking the 250kms Garissa-Hola-Garsen road), although they will need more training and expertise. They have so far done an impressive job between Hola town and Garsen.

@arzedu, it costs 100million Kshs a Km?thats around 1million dollars for every KM.Damn,road building has become costly.I remember a time a KM of road cost around 27million kshs.The more time successive governments dont pay attention to crucial highways in the country,the more expensive it will become to build them.

@arzedu, it costs 100million Kshs a Km?thats around 1million dollars for every KM.Damn,road building has become costly.I remember a time a KM of road cost around 27million kshs.The more time successive governments dont pay attention to crucial highways in the country,the more expensive it will become to build them.

You are right, Ernest, very expensive indeed to build roads nowadays. However, the problem with the cost lies with the issue of bribing officials in Min of Roads plus the politicians (easily half the cost of the contractual amounts). Remember one time some residents in Nairobi West, who were featured in the Nation, got tired of waiting for the government and raised their own cash for constructing a 600m stretch of road, and they only spent some KSh 6m on bituminizing that bit (meaning true cost of a kilometer is about 12M shillings?) I also know of a businessman in Eastleigh who built tarmac extension to his premises, and he never used a fraction of what they say it costs!

It is corruption, pure and simple.:ohno:

Or they can decide to use the NYS (which is now tarmacking the 250kms Garissa-Hola-Garsen road), although they will need more training and expertise. They have so far done an impressive job between Hola town and Garsen.

Are you sure? That would be wonderful news, every time i glance at the equipment that they have on their Thika road yard i always ask myself what it is intended for... so its being used somewhere!

Are you sure? That would be wonderful news, every time i glance at the equipment that they have on their Thika road yard i always ask myself what it is intended for... so its being used somewhere!

Dhuks, if you drive on the Garissa to Mombasa road, you will see the NYS crewmen on the 100km stretch between Hola town (150km from Garissa) and Garsen town. They are now on site, tarmacking the 100km from Hola to Garsen, a stretch which is renowned as marshy land. In my view they have with limited experience done a good job.

They in the past (in the 1980s and 90s) tarmacked the 150km Garissa-Hola road; it is now in total tatters, to the extent that cars drive off the damaged tarmac.

And btw, this is how sections of the Garissa-Mombasa "highway" looks like! Out of this world! Took this photo when I went touring in December last year...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6302678589_827a03b250_b.jpg

Something is being done though at a snail's speed.

TENDER NOTICE
TENDER NUMBER: KeNHA/267/2011
TENDER NAME: CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION
SUPERVISION OF MODIKA – NUNO ROAD (C81) AND
COMPLETION OF OUTSTANDING WORKS ON GARISSA –
MODIKA ROAD (A3)The Kenya National High Authority (KeNHA) is a State Corporation established under the Kenya Roads Act, 2007, with the responsibility for the Management, Development, Rehabilitation and Maintenance of National Roads. The Authority invites bids from eligible Consulting companies for the Consultancy Services for the Supervision of Construction of Modika – Nuno Road (C81) and completion of outstanding works on Garissa – Modika Road (A3).
Details of the scope of works are included in the Request for Proposal documents.
The following are mandatory requirements that must be submitted together with the proposal:
a) Certified copy of certificate of incorporation.
b) Certified copy of current tax compliance certificate.
c) Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the proposed key staff duly signed by the proposed individual.
d) Certified copies of certificates and testimonials of the proposed key staff.
e) Letters of availability for the assignment signed by the proposed key staff.
f) Proof of registration with the Ministry of Roads under category “B” for Planning, Design and Supervision of Road Works.
g) Current work load.
h) Litigation history (sworn affidavit).
i) Client satisfaction on previous and current assignments.
Procurement shall be based on the post qualification method and the above details will be submitted with the proposal.
Instructions to Consultants
i. The proposed personnel must not be currently engaged in supervision of an on-going roads project.
ii. Consultants having an on-going road works supervision assignments need not apply.
iii. A person proposed for key role on site by more than one consultant shall cause the disqualification of both consultants.
Interested eligible firms may inspect the tender documents from the procurement office, Kenya
Page 2 of 2
National Highways Authority Headquarters, on the First Floor, Blue Shield Towers, Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi during normal working hours.
The Request for Proposal document may be obtained by interested firms upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Kshs.5, 000.00 (Five thousand shillings only) in form of banker’s cheque payable to Kenya National Highways Authority.
The proposal shall be enclosed in a plain sealed envelope clearly marked with the tender number and tender name and deposited in the tender box situated at KeNHA headquarters Mezzanine Floor, Blue Shield Towers or to be addressed to:-
Secretary/Tender Committee,
Kenya National Highways Authority,
Blue Shield Towers, Mezzanine Floor, Hospital Road, Upper Hill,
P. O. Box 49712-00100,
NAIROBI, KENYA
So as to be received on or before Tuesday, 6th September, 2011 at 12.00 noon.
Opening of the proposals will take place immediately thereafter at the KeNHA Board Room, 3rd Floor, Blue Shield Towers in the presence of firm’s representatives who choose to attend.
Felix K. Koske
FOR: DIRECTOR GENERAL

Thanks Dhuks. I think GoK can do something spectacular if they can somehow devise a cost-effective way of tarmacking the whole effing stretch. For example, I remember reading somewhere that road construction costs (per km) in eastern Africa are the cheapest in Sudan (the north) because they use by-products from their oil refineries or something for their roads: I think their costs were like KSh 20m a kilometer or so. This would come to like KSh 14 billion for the 700km-plus Garissa-Mandera stretch. For comparison's sake, it is the same amount GoK reckons will be enough for the Outer Ring Road in Nairobi!

Dhuks, if you drive on the Garissa to Mombasa road, you will see the NYS crewmen on the 100km stretch between Hola town (150km from Garissa) and Garsen town. They are now on site, tarmacking the 100km from Hola to Garsen, a stretch which is renowned as marshy land. In my view they have with limited experience done a good job.

They in the past (in the 1980s and 90s) tarmacked the 150km Garissa-Hola road; it is now in total tatters, to the extent that cars drive off the damaged tarmac.

@Arzedu NYS have been tarmacking the Garsen-Hola section from 2008. I agree with u on their quality it needs serious upgrading. There is a section near Mnazini (22km from Garsen) which is so bad that u can get sturck for about a week

Dhuks, if you drive on the Garissa to Mombasa road, you will see the NYS crewmen on the 100km stretch between Hola town (150km from Garissa) and Garsen town. They are now on site, tarmacking the 100km from Hola to Garsen, a stretch which is renowned as marshy land. In my view they have with limited experience done a good job.

They in the past (in the 1980s and 90s) tarmacked the 150km Garissa-Hola road; it is now in total tatters, to the extent that cars drive off the damaged tarmac.

Here is horrible section on the Hola-Garsen road near Wenje (a small village) :ohno::ohno:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6347976138_e7e4177eae_z.jpg

@ Mzeiya, thanks for the update. I can remember Wenje well for I was stuck here in Dec 2009: the soils are very sticky and my best efforts could not pull out the Toyota truck we had then! Just looking at the stuck Landcruiser reminds me we had to do "reverse" steering to avoid hitting the trees on the sides...

I was saddened to see last month (October) the nightmarish state of Garissa-Hola road; unbelievable degradation of a road that was motorable just 4 years ago! No maintenance at all! The buses and lorries on that "road" I saw were avoiding the 'tarmac', choosing to drive on the soft sand beside the road!

@Arzedu NYS have been tarmacking the Garsen-Hola section from 2008. I agree with u on their quality it needs serious upgrading. There is a section near Mnazini (22km from Garsen) which is so bad that u can get sturck for about a week

:lol:

@ Mzeiya, thanks for the update. I can remember Wenje well for I was stuck here in Dec 2009: the soils are very sticky and my best efforts could not pull out the Toyota truck we had then! Just looking at the stuck Landcruiser reminds me we had to do "reverse" steering to avoid hitting the trees on the sides...

I was saddened to see last month (October) the nightmarish state of Garissa-Hola road; unbelievable degradation of a road that was motorable just 4 years ago! No maintenance at all! The buses and lorries on that "road" I saw were avoiding the 'tarmac', choosing to drive on the soft sand beside the road!


There is a serious and an urgent need to build roads that link all major towns across Kenya. Can we say all district headquarters should be linked by roads, including Mandera, Wajir, Moyale, Marsabit, Lokichogio. All the remote parts of Kenya. I am a champion of equality, really I have never understood how people can say they live in another country due to lack of road connectivity. We should build they least , even just national roads linking these other parts in relation to population. if a Kenyan wants to visit Wajir for example just live and invest there it should easily accessible. We have failed in fair distribution of resources and equal recognition of all areas as parts of Kenya. We should and good to note are improving on this front.

@ Mzeiya, thanks for the update. I can remember Wenje well for I was stuck here in Dec 2009: the soils are very sticky and my best efforts could not pull out the Toyota truck we had then! Just looking at the stuck Landcruiser reminds me we had to do "reverse" steering to avoid hitting the trees on the sides...

I was saddened to see last month (October) the nightmarish state of Garissa-Hola road; unbelievable degradation of a road that was motorable just 4 years ago! No maintenance at all! The buses and lorries on that "road" I saw were avoiding the 'tarmac', choosing to drive on the soft sand beside the road!

Unacceptable...and to think that GK regularly has about ksh 100bn returned to treasury unspent... its just criminal.

There is a serious and an urgent need to build roads that link all major towns across Kenya. Can we say all district headquarters should be linked by roads, including Mandera, Wajir, Moyale, Marsabit, Lokichogio. All the remote parts of Kenya. I am a champion of equality, really I have never understood how people can say they live in another country due to lack of road connectivity. We should build they least , even just national roads linking these other parts in relation to population. if a Kenyan wants to visit Wajir for example just live and invest there it should easily accessible. We have failed in fair distribution of resources and equal recognition of all areas as parts of Kenya. We should and good to note are improving on this front.

Spot on, my broda. You may have probably read about that Wajir herdsman who was puzzled (it was about 6am morning time, as he was taking his camels to grazing) about the hordes of serious 4X4s in his village. The poor sod didnt know it was referendum time (Aug 2010), and that he was the only voter there, the rest having simply vanished to Somalia due to droughts!!! He came back at 8pm, to find the same expensive suits there, when it was explained to him that they were waiting for a Mr X (who was him!!!:lol:). Because he didnt understand what the whole excitement was all about, and because he started sweating at the site of all these govt types, he simply voted (NO, as it turned out). This illiteracy is killing the north, and govt should start getting serious about integrating the north into Kenya proper. Mebbe they can start by getting rid of that barrier on the Tana river in Garissa and its hordes of armed-to-the-teeth paramilitaries...

Unacceptable...and to think that GK regularly has about ksh 100bn returned to treasury unspent... its just criminal.

Give the devil his due.This Govt has managed to connect vast places that were previously untarmacked.But thats no excuse to fail to connect Mandera,Wajir to the tarmacked 'grid'. I think all the areas that have been tarmacked deserved it but if you were to ask me, This road needed tarmac before Oloitoki-tok or Njabini.

And the wait for this important road to be tarmacked continues

In the meantime, this is what is happening (below) to the vaunted Thika-Garissa "highway". For those who dont know, it passes by VP's home constituency ... and is used by over 20 bus companies that ply between NEP and Nairobi

Very sad

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5462/6944639272_cd60cdccd9_b.jpg

And the wait for this important road to be tarmacked continues

In the meantime, this is what is happening (below) to the vaunted Thika-Garissa "highway". For those who dont know, it passes by VP's home constituency ... and is used by over 20 bus companies that ply between NEP and Nairobi

Very sad

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5462/6944639272_cd60cdccd9_b.jpg



Our main problem with roads is poor maintenance. How can a road get to be so bad yet every year there is a budget for road maintenance? Where does that money go? Because I personally don't see anywhere any roads under maintenance like re-carpeting, shoulder strengthening, etc. Even these new road construction projects are useless if they will not be well maintained. Our procedure seems to be to build new roads then run a way until it needs news reconstruction. Our neighbour TZ is doing very well in road maintenance. At home I never see this at all. So I don't know where the road maintenance money goes. I think the rule of law is a really important thing. Generally the rule of law in Kenya is almost non-existent, people just do as they wish, when and how they decide to. So this goes to all aspects of the economy, ALL. Governance, justice, economic activities.

Our main problem with roads is poor maintenance. How can a road get to be so bad yet every year there is a budget for road maintenance? Where does that money go? Because I personally don't see anywhere any roads under maintenance like re-carpeting, shoulder strengthening, etc. Even these new road construction projects are useless if they will not be well maintained. Our procedure seems to be to build new roads then run a way until it needs news reconstruction. Our neighbour TZ is doing very well in road maintenance. At home I never see this at all. So I don't know where the road maintenance money goes. I think the rule of law is a really important thing. Generally the rule of law in Kenya is almost non-existent, people just do as they wish, when and how they decide to. So this goes to all aspects of the economy, ALL. Governance, justice, economic activities.

maintenance is not as expensive as laying out new roads altogether, Govt has prioritised new roads which is a good measure but if i read the figures right this years budget had alot of money allocated for maintenance; whether it has been better utilised is a whole issue on its own altogether.

maintenance is not as expensive as laying out new roads altogether, Govt has prioritised new roads which is a good measure but if i read the figures right this years budget had alot of money allocated for maintenance; whether it has been better utilised is a whole issue on its own altogether.

@Dhuks and Abckris, you guys will be shocked if I tell you guys that last year (2011) KeNHA (under which this road falls) allocated KSh 120m (yes, 120m) for its maintenance! A contractor came and was on site for a few days, then voila! He was gone with the wind!

I am in Garissa now and I am astounded to see the so-called Kismayu Road (recarpeted in Dec last year by the self-same contractor) is in tatters. I went to the District Planning Unit to ask questions (couldn't trace KeNHA here) and I was baffled even more when I also found them lamenting too!

The way we do roads in this country is a complete joke. I travelled last year between on an 800km asphalt extra smooth road linking Khartoum and the Eritrean border, and I wished Sudanese companies could come and do roads for us.

The reconstruction of thika-garisa road is almost starting.the lst hurdle is approval by nema

@Dhuks and Abckris, you guys will be shocked if I tell you guys that last year (2011) KeNHA (under which this road falls) allocated KSh 120m (yes, 120m) for its maintenance! A contractor came and was on site for a few days, then voila! He was gone with the wind!

I am in Garissa now and I am astounded to see the so-called Kismayu Road (recarpeted in Dec last year by the self-same contractor) is in tatters. I went to the District Planning Unit to ask questions (couldn't trace KeNHA here) and I was baffled even more when I also found them lamenting too!

The way we do roads in this country is a complete joke. I travelled last year between on an 800km asphalt extra smooth road linking Khartoum and the Eritrean border, and I wished Sudanese companies could come and do roads for us.

Who is this shoddy contractor?

The reconstruction of thika-garisa road is almost starting.the lst hurdle is approval by nema


:nuts::nuts::nuts: does Nema come in when all that is being done is maintenance?

Ernest, it is some shoddy outfit called (wait for this) Tropical Promotions. I have never heard of them before

@ Adhuks.nema is just doing environmental assesment before real construction starts.tropical company was simply doing emergency rehabilition 2 keep the road in usable state before they embark working on it

How our roads are maintained http://youtu.be/UL-nIDMQXHE [URL="http://http://youtu.be/UL-nIDMQXHE"]

Arzedu,
Since you travel to through Kericho to Kisumu you may be familiar with the road to Muhoroni that branches off the Kericho-Kisumu road. I do not know how much a contractor (don't even know who it is) was paid to recarpet it, but from what I saw it will be like the Kismayu road in six months. This is a constant in Kenya where contractors do superficial work and continue to be awarded one contract after another. Another example is the stretch to Kisumu airport on the Kisumu-Maseno road. This stretch was redone just last year and today it is already falling apart. What gives?


@Dhuks and Abckris, you guys will be shocked if I tell you guys that last year (2011) KeNHA (under which this road falls) allocated KSh 120m (yes, 120m) for its maintenance! A contractor came and was on site for a few days, then voila! He was gone with the wind!

I am in Garissa now and I am astounded to see the so-called Kismayu Road (recarpeted in Dec last year by the self-same contractor) is in tatters. I went to the District Planning Unit to ask questions (couldn't trace KeNHA here) and I was baffled even more when I also found them lamenting too!

The way we do roads in this country is a complete joke. I travelled last year between on an 800km asphalt extra smooth road linking Khartoum and the Eritrean border, and I wished Sudanese companies could come and do roads for us.

Arzedu,
Since you travel to through Kericho to Kisumu you may be familiar with the road to Muhoroni that branches off the Kericho-Kisumu road. I do not know how much a contractor (don't even know who it is) was paid to recarpet it, but from what I saw it will be like the Kismayu road in six months. This is a constant in Kenya where contractors do superficial work and continue to be awarded one contract after another. Another example is the stretch to Kisumu airport on the Kisumu-Maseno road. This stretch was redone just last year and today it is already falling apart. What gives?

Your observations are spot on: I wished whoever it was could copy the Chinese who are doing the stretch from Muhoroni to Londiani. The Kisumu airport road was done by a criminal: he and the supervising engineer should be in jail by now.

The reconstruction of thika-garisa road is almost starting.the lst hurdle is approval by nema

My point is not that the roads will not be reconstructed or even when. My big question is why should that even happen so quickly, basically build and leave, wait for reconstruction yet maintenance money is allocated year-in-year-out. So why should a road be re-carpeted when it is going to be re-constructed a fresh in a year's time? Is this to allow for intentionally shoddy work whose quality cannot be questioned because by the time you begin to notice the poor quality and the road falling apart, they will be starting the reconstruction?

I think it is becoming a pattern. Look at Thika road, it stayed for so long without any attention, then one year to reconstruction, it was wholly re-carpeted, Ngong road is the same, Mau summit-Kisumu, Kisumu-Maseno, Maseno- Busia. May be it is a new way to get easy money by the road not having the benefit of being tested by the natural passing of time. I consider these cases of suspicious contracting and deliberate suspects to corruption. Why is it a pattern? For those who care about public finance this a great line of questioning for public officials responsible for roads. Of course there might be nothing wrong in there but it raises an eye brow.

My point is not that the roads will not be reconstructed or even when. My big question is why should that even happen so quickly, basically build and leave, wait for reconstruction yet maintenance money is allocated year-in-year-out. So why should a road be re-carpeted when it is going to be re-constructed a fresh in a year's time? Is this to allow for intentionally shoddy work whose quality cannot be questioned because by the time you begin to notice the poor quality and the road falling apart, they will be starting the reconstruction?

I think it is becoming a pattern. Look at Thika road, it stayed for so long without any attention, then one year to reconstruction, it was wholly re-carpeted, Ngong road is the same, Mau summit-Kisumu, Kisumu-Maseno, Maseno- Busia. May be it is a new way to get easy money by the road not having the benefit of being tested by the natural passing of time. I consider these cases of suspicious contracting and deliberate suspects to corruption. Why is it a pattern? For those who care about public finance this a great line of questioning for public officials responsible for roads. Of course there might be nothing wrong in there but it raises an eye brow.

If you download and skim through the contract documents produced by KURA and KeNHA, you will be impressed by how thorough and how detailed they are, only to realise later that there is a wide gulf between what is on paper and what actually happens on the ground (or tarmac, if you will).

There is a deliberate policy existing in the upper echelons of GoK that they must loot and loot and pillage and steal from the suffering public. One of the areas this happens by is through these infrastructure projects. You only have to keenly listen in on the ministers (some of them are now veterans whenever there is a public hearing into some suspect deal) being grilled in the public by Parliamentary committees to see how they have made a science out of blindsiding the "ethnic" public in Kenya.

Thika Rd was recarpeted at a monstrous cost (I heard a figure of KSh 4bn being bandied around) just a year to the re-construction. So was the old Airport North Rd (now no more): this one was comical since it rapidly unravelled, with hideous monstrous-looking craters, right before the eyes of the thieving "contractor". His machines were on site as the potholes developed like it was a fashion all over Outer Ring Rd.

It all goes into financing the scam that is siasa in Kenya: buying votes, buying loyalty.

Oh my God.you guys have just opened my eyes.Come to think of it, this is a trend that has been going on, on almost all major roads in nairobi.ngong road was recarpeted some time last year(or 2010) and yet it is due to be upgraded into a dual carriageway this year.Why waste public funds re-carpeting roads which have already been commissioned for reconstruction?

I cannot even begin to count the number of times jogoo road has been re-carpeted.

Did you ever use Thika road before that recarpet? Even a few months driving on gullies cannot be justified awaiting a major overhaul. Ernest if ngong road would have awaited dualling to restore its motorable surface we would still be driving through trenches never mind that its yet to get a financier. There are malpractices that do happen but just not blanket them.

Did you ever use Thika road before that recarpet? Even a few months driving on gullies cannot be justified awaiting a major overhaul. Ernest if ngong road would have awaited dualling to restore its motorable surface we would still be driving through trenches never mind that its yet to get a financier. There are malpractices that do happen but just not blanket them.


Still the period we used that road going to KU with lots of trenches was much longer than the period between its re-carpeting and reconstruction. So it beats all logic. In fact iliniuma sana nilipoona wakiitoa like fresh tarmac and destroying the whole road for reconstruction yet many years tulikuwa kukikwepa mashimo hayo kama ukoma nikienda KU, acha tu. Even the tall street lights which they had put and were all very nice, were all brought down yet for many years there was no light on that road. Within one year everything was gone, some still fresh. It hurts when you know the money could have been used to build 40km of road to Mandera from Garissa.

deleted

Passed here last week, and saw some activity. An Iranian contractor was awarded the contract to upgrade the road to bitumen standards. Good thing now we have 32kms paved between Garissa and Mandera (with only about 700kms to go now)! Calls for a celebration ...


http://static.panoramio.com/photos/1920x1280/80916943.jpghttp://static.panoramio.com/photos/1920x1280/80917109.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/1920x1280/80916890.jpg

^^good news though 32 kilometres is a drop in the ocean

^^good news though 32 kilometres is a drop in the ocean

Good point!

It is an interesting "road". The first 11kms that are tarmacked are a study in how infrastructure boost trade and commerce: that stretched is lined by villas after red-tiled villas (that will be more at home in Karen than in dry Garissa). There are dozens of Proboxes doing the runs and commerce is at an all-time high. (I confess too to having a ka-house on that stretch ... :lol:)

Au-delà de ce tronçon de la route, is miles upon miles of utter neglect and isolation, save for the few hardy souls with their camels. So, when the Chinese averred that "to develop a place, build a road", they were spot on.

A road network in north eastern would boost our GDP by 1percent and open up land for businesses and factories to take root

This tops as the best news of the month. Opening the northern frontier is a must. Good roads are a constitutional right for every Kenyan. Am so happy for NEP. I hope Moi is seeing all this.

This tops as the best news of the month. Opening the northern frontier is a must. Good roads are a constitutional right for every Kenyan. Am so happy for NEP. I hope Moi is seeing all this.

Good but Garissa-Mandera, Mandera - Moyale, Moyale - Nadapal is the answer. Can you imagine what change that would bring in the country economically?

Good development in deed even though it's only 32 kilometers. At least it's more than SBI has been able to do elsewhere.

I agree: great move on the part of GoK. My hope is that one day the road will be as smooth as the Naivasha-Nakuru highway or at least like the this (a road in Mozambique, connecting Quelimane with Nampula, a distance of about 700kms!)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/I agree: great move on the part of GoK. My hope is that one day the road will be as smooth as the Naivasha-Nakuru highway or at least like the this (a road in Mozambique, connecting Quelimane with Nampula, a distance of about 700kms!) [IMG]http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/80978416.jpghttp://static.panoramio.com/photos/medium/80978416.jpg

kenya on the move

Same song for ages now
The government has signed a Sh221 million loan for the upgrade of a key road linking Garissa and Mandera counties.

Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) says the funds will be used in design review, tendering, and supervising the construction of the Nuno-Modogashe Road.

It is a loan grant from Kuwait Fund, the OPEC Fund, Saudi Fund, and Abu Dhabi Fund and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.

Kenha director-general Meshack Kidenda said the road will be turned into a two-lane single carriageway of bituminous standard.

“Once completed, the road will open up these areas for production, and ease transportation of produce and livestock,” said Mr Kidenda.

The 135km road connects Garissa, Isiolo, Wajir, and Mandera.

Started in 2010, the project now expected to be completed in 2016, was initially estimated to cost Sh8 billion ($100 million).

The government is expected to fund the project to a sum of Sh5.36 billion ($67 million) with loans from these organisations. The taxpayer is set to foot Sh1.84 billion ($23 million).

The entry of the Bank provided an additional Sh800 million ($9.83 million) through loans under a 30-year regime at one per cent interest.
It targets strengthening the African-Arab co-operation and linkages.