UPGRADING OF KIBWEZI – KITUI – KABATI – MIGWANI ROAD TO BITUMEN STANDARD
Road to offer alternative route from the Port of Mombasa to the Lower, Upper Eastern Regions and Ethiopia hence decongesting the Nairobi – Mombasa Highway and improve the economic competitiveness of Counties served by this corridor.
The project road is situated in the Eastern region of Kenya, starting at the junction with A8 (Nairobi - Mombasa road) near Kibwezi town and runs in a northward direction via Mutomo, Kitui and ends at Migwani.
This road forms part of the larger Mombasa – Addis Ababa Corridor which links the Mombasa – Nairobi Highway (A8) at Kibwezi and the Nairobi – Addis Ababa Highway (A2) at Isiolo. It is an alternative shorter route to Moyale and ultimately Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The traffic to these areas from Mombasa will avoid going through Nairobi.
Specifically, upgrading of the road to bitumen standard once complete will facilitate faster movement of goods and services and unlock the economic potential of Makueni, Kitui, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Isiolo and Marsabit Counties. The road will also open up Embu County through Chiakariga – Ena Road. The road will boost transportation of agricultural produce and improve farming in Kitui County and Tharaka Nithi Counties that is expected to more efficiently serve the surrounding towns. The road will also boost tourism in Tsavo East National Park and Kitui South Game Reserve; Mineral exploration of coal at Mui basin; limestone mining at Mutomo; and iron ore at Ikutha.
