Road linking Kenya, S. Sudan to start construction in 2016

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Road

The construction of the 601 kilometre road linking Kenya’s northwest town of Lesseru to Nakodok/Nadapal border with South Sudan will begin in 2016, Kenyan officials said on Monday.
Road Principal Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure John Mosonik told journalists in Nairobi that this follows the successful negotiation of a World Bank credit facility.
“The World Bank has agreed to provide 500 million U.S. dollars out of the 956 million dollars required for the exercise,” Mosonik said.
The PS said the assistance is the largest single credit from the World Bank to Kenya so far, and the bank’s approval for the project is expected in June.
He noted that apart from facilitating connectivity between Kenya and South Sudan, the project will enhance cross-border trade and reduce transportation costs.
“It will also aid transportation of emergency relief supplies and humanitarian efforts in northern Kenya,” he said.
Road construction is expected to be implemented over a period of six years, with five years allocated for road upgrading and one year for the development of physical infrastructure.
“The reconstruction of this link is part of the larger objective of the two neighboring countries to transform the entire Eldoret-Juba road section into a development corridor,” the PS said.
The road will be a vital road link serving northern Kenya through Lokichar, Lodwar, Kakuma to Lokichoggio. Musonik said the government will contribute 70 million dollars towards the road project.
“This will help to integrate local communities along the transport corridor into the modern economy through the provision of basic services such water and electricity,” he said, adding that the government is also negotiating with the German Development Bank, European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank for the funding of the remaining portion of the road.
The road project will also involve the laying of a 600 km fibre optic cable. Enditem

Source: Xinhua

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