The Ministry of Roads and Transport is implementing a 740km transformative road project in the North Eastern part of Kenya to enhance connectivity in the region and cross-border access to Somalia and Ethiopia.

The project traverses 5 (five) Counties of Meru, Garissa, Isiolo, Wajir, and Mandera Counties and it is expected to unlock the area’s economic potential, improve trade, enhance mobility and improve internet connectivity in the region.

The project is being implemented under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HOAGDP) and is a World Bank funded project that will also involve the upgrading to bitumen standards and laying out a 748 km fiber optic cable between Isiolo and Mandera to improve internet connectivity in the region.

The main implementing Agency is the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) and the Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA).

The project also aims at improving digital connectivity and socio-economic status of communities in the region. Social amenities were provided at locations selected after communities were consulted. The main objective of project is to improve the road transport, digital connectivity and social economic status of communities along the Meru- Isiolo- Garissa-Wajir Mandera Road corridor.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with five Governors drawn from the Northern Frontier Counties on waiver of construction materials and remission of cess during implementation of the project. The five Governors are from Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit and Garissa. The completion of the project will promote trade and create investment opportunities between Counties and cut the cost of transport to the region.

The Principal Secretary for Roads said the road tarmac project is one of the biggest development projects to be undertaken in the region since independence and referred to the it as the much-needed life line for the North Eastern Region.

He said the project would open up the region and put an end to perennial insecurity largely fueled by the poor road and transport infrastructure in the region.

Eng. Mbugua said the project was on course to completion, and the section that HE president William Ruto launched, the Isiolo-Kulamawe and Kulamawe-Modogashe was 41.7 % complete.