Constructions works on the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Road at a cost of Sh.160 billion will commence within two months, the Transport, Infrastructure Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary (CS), James Macharia has announced.
Macharia said a French firm had been awarded the job that is targeting to ease traffic snarl ups along the highway that have been blamed for accidents and wastage of man-hours.
In April this year, a tribunal dismissed a case challenging a decision by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to award the tender to the lowest bidder.
The CS further confirmed that rehabilitation works on the busy Moi South Lake Road in Naivasha will commence next week.
Last week flower growers and players in the lucrative hospitality industry faulted both the national and county governments over the poor state of the road.
Governor Lee Kinyanjui had also expressed concerns that the number of local and international tourists continue to dwindle after the road fell into disrepair.
“Naivasha is a competitive commercial hub and the state of the road should not be allowed to be a mockery to the high number of investors operating in the area.
“The bumpy road has been a nightmare for our investors and visitors and they are not hiding this fact after visiting our facilities,” said the governor.
On the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit road the Public Private Partnerships Petitions Committee sitting in Nairobi dismissed the application by a consortium that had lost the deal, but wanted it nullified.
A consortium of Egis Projects S.A (France), Mota-Engil-Engenharia E Construcao Africa, S A (Portugal), Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers Seed Partnership (South Africa), and Orascom Construction Ltd (Egypt) had bid Sh.194,975,130,000 for the tender.
On the other hand, the consortium that won the bid – Rift Valley Connect Consortium (RVC) which is composed of three French firms Vinci Highways, Meridian Infrastructure Africa Fund, and Vinci Concessions, quoted Sh.159,499,760,000.
This made a difference of Sh.35,475,370,000 and following the evaluation process, Kenha on February 27, 2019 awarded tender No. KeNHA/PPP/1689/2017 to the lowest bidder.
But on March 8, 2019 the losing bidder filed its petition at the committee, accusing KeNHA of violating the law governing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and engaging in a non-transparent exercise.
“The road to be done under a PPP will feature a dual carriageway of four lanes to be increased to six with increased traffic and an elevated road (Nakuru Expressway) being proposed in Nakuru town.”
By Anne Mwale
