The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced plans to allocate part of the Ksh27.5 billion earmarked for the construction of the Isiolo–Mandera highway to consultancy services for a trade and transport facilitation study.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, August 26, the Authority revealed it had received a loan from the African Development Bank and intends to use part of the funds to hire a firm to carry out the services.
According to KeNHA, the consultancy will involve assessing traffic and trade flows, collecting baseline data along the route, and proposing recommendations to improve trade facilitation on the Isiolo–Mandera corridor.
Other advertised services include an analysis of non-tariff barriers as well as institutional, policy and regulatory issues affecting the project.
"KeNHA, being the implementing agency of the Government of the Republic of Kenya, now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing the above services," the Authority announced.
As per the notice, the companies hired to undertake the services would be required to conduct the assignment within 12 months. However, they must first meet certain conditions.
A firm seeking to provide the services must have been registered for not less than eight years in the fields of transportation engineering, transportation economics, transportation planning, and the multilateral trading system.
Similarly, the firm must demonstrate competence and experience in successfully delivering similar assignments in transportation engineering, transportation economics, transportation planning, and multilateral trade.
KeNHA announced that the shortlisting and the selection procedure would be conducted in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement Policy for Bank Group Funded Operations.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in written form, clearly marked with the assignment title and tender number, and deposited in the box at KeNHA Headquarters in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, the 749-kilometre road is part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, a flagship regional initiative aimed at improving regional connectivity within the counties in the Northern part of Kenya and other neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and Somalia.
Its construction officially commenced in May this year, with the total cost of the project estimated at Ksh85 billion. Part of the project is currently being funded by proceeds from the World Bank.
