Transport and Infrastructure billions set to propel growth
A section of the Thika superhighway: The Jubilee government has pledged to promote infrastructure development. FILE
The newly merged Transport and Infrastructure ministry got an allocation of Sh125.72 billion, which is expected to finance completion of pending projects including the expansion of the Port of Mombasa and key highways.
As separate dockets of Transport and Roads, they were awarded Sh18.8 billion and Sh123.6 billion respectively in the current fiscal year, which totalled to Sh142.4 billion.
“With the 2013/14 budgetary allocation, the ministry will focus on completion of ongoing road projects in addition to maintaining the already existing road network, rehabilitation and maintenance of ramps at jetties at Mombasa and maintenance of airstrips across the country,” read the ministry’s medium-term plan released as part of the expenditure estimates.
Transport connectivity has a direct bearing on the country’s competitiveness as it influences the cost of living and doing business. Former President Mwai Kibaki spent heavily on infrastructure development to spur economic growth.
President Uhuru Kenyatta in his campaign manifesto promised to sustain infrastructure development to improve the country’s competitiveness.
Ministerial notes that were part of the expenditure estimates released on Thursday prioritised development of the second container terminal at the port of Mombasa and the implementation of the Lamu Port Southern Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor (Lapsset).
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) remains under pressure to expedite the expansion and modernisation of Mombasa port to handle bigger capacity vessels due to increased demand from the region.
Apart from Kenya, the port of Mombasa handles cargo to and from Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia. Lapsset, a $25 billion (about Sh2.5 trillion) integrated infrastructure project, is also critical in improving trade between Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan. It entails construction of a new port in Lamu as well as a railway, pipeline, highway, airport and refinery.
Besides cutting over-reliance on Kenya’s existing Mombasa port, the project is aimed at deepening trade and opening up northern Kenya, a vast area whose vast economic potential is yet to be tapped because of infrastructure challenges.
The ministry said it plans to construct 1,480 kilometres of new roads and rehabilitate another 1,900km in the medium term. It also hopes to maintain 246,000km of roads on a regular basis.
It said the Kisumu Airport facilities would be upgraded including the construction of two additional taxiways and cargo aprons, while the older section of the present runway will be strengthened.
At the main Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi , the ministry hopes to complete work on passenger terminal four, the multi-storey car park as well as a brand new terminal within the airport.
A modern control tower will be built at Wilson Airport and complete on going work to build a new passenger terminal, car park and apron at the Isiolo airport, the ministry said.
Major rehabilitation work would also be carried out on airstrips in Lodwar,Kitale and Eldoret while the passenger terminal at a similar facility in Kakamega will be extended.
The airstrip in Matunguu will be fenced while the airstrips in Embu and Nakuru will have their runways extended and fenced. A terminal building is planned for construction at the Embu airstrip.
