NAIROBI, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Tuesday kicked off preparations for a World Bank-backed infrastructure project to boost economic development of the northeast region, officials said.
Julius Korir, principal secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development told journalists in Nairobi that the Northeastern Transport Improvement Project (NETIP) aims to improve transport efficiency along the 740 km Isiolo-Wajir-Mandera road.
"To facilitate preparatory work, particularly the engineering designs of the road sections, the World Bank has advanced Kenya 1 billion shillings (10 million U.S. dollars)," Korir said during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the national government and county governments of Meru, Isiolo, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera for NETIP related projects.
He said the existing Isiolo-Wajir-Mandera road will be upgraded to bitumen standards so that Kenya can enhance its links to the neighboring countries of Somalia and Ethiopia.
Korir said that the World Bank is expected to fund through a concessional loan of 500 million dollars for construction of 365 km of road out of the 740 km.
"The remainder of the road will be constructed with funds from Arab banks and the road annuity program," he added.
According to the government official, environmental and social impact assessment has already been completed. "The process of procuring the contractors will begin in the next three weeks," Korir added.
Josphat Sasia, lead transport specialist at World Bank said the NETIP project is at an advanced stage and construction work should start in the next eight months to 12 months.
He noted that NETIP will also include installation of a 744 km fiber optic cable from Isiolo to Mandera.
