The newly completed 2.4 kilometre Kaptimbor Airstrip Road in Kabarnet, Baringo County, has come under public scrutiny after revelations that the project cost Ksh80 million, translating to approximately Ksh40 million per kilometre.
Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) had on Wednesday notified Kenyans that it was through with constructing the road, hailing it as a strategic investment to enhance access to the Kaptimbor Airstrip and nearby social amenities.
"KURA is committed to opening up urban centres through strategic road infrastructure, such as the 2.4KM Kaptimbor–Airstrip Road in Kabarnet, Baringo County. This key link enhances access to Kaptimbor Airstrip and essential social amenities, making movement easier," KURA posted.
However, the post elicited more suspicion than excitement. Kenyans took to the comment section to question how much the road cost.
The questions prompted a deeper investigation, which revealed that the 2.4-kilometer road cost taxpayers Ksh80 million. In one of its tender notices numbered KURA/RMLF/HQ/440/2023-2024, the authority noted that the rehabilitation of the road would cost Ksh80 million.
According to procurement documents reviewed by Kenyans.co.ke, the minimum average annual construction turnover required for bidders was Ksh80million, which was equivalent to the total budget of the project.
Additionally, contractors were required to have completed at least three similar contracts, each worth a minimum of Ksh40 million, within the last two years.
"Minimum average annual construction turnover of Kenya Shillings Ksh80,000,000.00 (Equivalent to the EE/Budget), equivalent calculated as total certified payments received for contracts in progress and/or completed within the last two years," the procurement documents read in part.
According to several Kenyans, such a price was too high, especially because KURA was not constructing the road from scratch but just rehabilitating it. So, how does KURA decide the cost of constructing and rehabilitating a road?
KURA determines the cost of constructing or rehabilitating a road based on a combination of technical, financial, and logistical factors, including the length and width, location, number of lanes, type of surfacing (eg, gravel, bitumen, asphalt), and features like drainage, signage, and pedestrian walkways.
These factors, among others like land acquisition, tendering, and external economic factors, can cause significant variations.
Roughly, data by KURA revealed that the cost of rehabilitating or upgrading a road may cost from as low as Ksh20 million to Ksh100 million per kilometre, factoring in these requirements.
This means that inasmuch as the Ksh80 million may seem much for a 2.4 kilometer road, the amount could be within range.
