Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has announced that the construction of Lot 1, Phase 1 of the Bagamoyo–Tanga–Horohoro/Lungalunga–Malindi Road Project connecting Kenya and Tanzania, is nearly halfway finished.
Phase 1 of the project is divided into two: Lot 1, which is the Mombasa–Mtwapa section, and Lot 2, which is the Mtwapa–Kwa Kadzengo–Kilifi.
In a statement on his official X account on Monday, July 28, the PS claimed that Lot 1, which is the 13.5km long Mombasa-Mtwapa section that runs between Nyali Bridge and Mtwapa Bridge, is 43 per cent complete.
Omollo claimed that the construction of the section, which began in November 2022, includes the establishment of 2.5km of dual carriageway, 1 km of service road, 1 box culvert, 4 overpass bridges, 4.3 km of trunk drain, and 6 km of U-drains.
Furthermore, this lot includes six overpasses and footbridges, 27 km of pedestrian walkways, and 24 km of service roads, as well as streetlights and drainage, according to the PS.
Additionally, the construction of the road, which is being managed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), will also see the upgrading of several junctions, including Bamburi, Links Road Junction, Bamburi Junction Bridge, and Kengeleni.
"The ongoing construction of the Multinational Bagamoyo–Tanga–Horohoro/Lungalunga–Malindi Road Project represents a transformative step toward deeper regional integration and infrastructure modernisation under the East African Community (EAC) framework," Omollo said.
"Currently under implementation is Phase 1, which is divided into two Lots. Lot 1 is the Mombasa–Mtwapa section, while Lot 2 is the Mtwapa–Kwa Kadzengo–Kilifi, all managed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)," he added.
The PS acknowledged that the progress of the highway has been slow, mainly because of land compensation issues, and asserted that the government is also in the process of compensating all the individuals who have been affected by the project.
According to the PS, the project will play a fundamental role in creating more jobs and elevating the tourism sector in the coastal region.
"This project brings with it multiple short-term and long-term socio-economic benefits. Already, hundreds of jobs have been created and local businesses, especially traders and transporters, are seeing increased demand," Omollo said.
In the project, the government also aims to embark on the restoration of 50 hectares of trees at Rabai-Kaloleni forest as part of landscape restoration, in addition to planting 400 trees for beautification along the road.
In addition to catalysing the economic development in the two countries, Omollo affirmed that the project will also play a key role in strengthening diplomatic ties between Kenya and Tanzania.
"Progress has been slowed in some sections by land compensation issues; however, the government has commenced compensation for affected persons and is concurrently relocating the main Baricho waterline, replacing it with a larger-capacity line," Omollo said.
