Multi-Billion Projects Initiated During Kibaki, Raila Era

President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off SGR Phase 2A at the Nairobi Terminus on Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off SGR Phase 2A at the Nairobi Terminus on Wednesday, October 16, 2019
PSCU

Update: Former President Mwai Kibaki passed away on Friday, April 22, 2022. President Uhuru Kenyatta announced. 


In the first years of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, the Jubilee government faced criticism for launching and taking credit for projects which the opposition claimed were initiated in the previous years.

ODM leader Raila Odinga, in 2017, stated that some of the development projects launched in the country were initiated by the Grand Coalition Government in which he served as Prime Minister.

These, he said, were funded in the previous financial years before Jubilee took over. Some were already listed in the Vision 2030 blueprint unveiled in 2008.  These government projects initiated by the Grand Coalition Government include:

The SGR Project 

Kibaki RAO
Retired President Mwai Kibaki (right) and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a past function in 2014.
File

“SGR was a project of the Grand Coalition Government,” Raila stated, adding that Uhuru’s Jubilee hijacked the project, started by former President Kibaki and him.

Kibaki met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on October 28, 2008, to discuss the SGR.

On August 12, 2009, Kenya entered into an MoU with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) tasked with conducting a feasibility study for phase one of the railway, between Mombasa and Nairobi according to Transport Ministry documents. 

Jubilee Party took over the project after Uhuru came into power in 2013.  

Konza City 

Konza Techno City (KTC) project is a new city 60km outside of Nairobi with the objective of positioning Kenya as a leading ICT nation in Africa. The Vision 2030 project was listed as Uhuru's flagship project. 

The project is estimated to cost the government about Ksh1.2 trillion. 

LAPPSET 

The Lamu Port South-Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor was also unveiled as a Vision 2030 project. 

A new transport corridor is being constructed from the new port of Lamu through Garissa, Isiolo, Mararal, Lodwar and Lokichoggio to branch at Isiolo to Ethiopia and Southern Sudan. 

The project comprises a new road network, a railway line, the oil refinery at Lamu, an oil pipeline, Isiolo and Lamu Airports and a free port at Lamu (Manda Bay) in addition to resort cities at the coast and in Isiolo. Construction of Lamu Port commenced in 2012 and Uhuru commissioned the first berth on Thursday, May 20. 

President Kenyatta Inaugurating the First Berth Of New 32-berth Lamu Port on May 20, 2021.
President Kenyatta Inaugurating the First Berth Of New 32-berth Lamu Port on May 20, 2021.
PSCU

National Land Information Management System (NLIMS) 

Development of the system was at 35 percent completion level by 2014 under the Vision 2030 project and was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, upon completion. 

Dubbed Ardhisasa, the system is expected to transform services from manual to digital at the Ministry of Lands. 

JKIA Expansion 

The Ksh56 billion expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) tender was awarded to Anhui Construction Engineering Group Company Limited (ACEG) in a joint venture with China Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation (CATIC) on December 16, 2011.

In December 2013, the groundbreaking for both the 2nd runway and the 20 million passenger terminal was done by H.E the President Uhuru Kenyatta

The project is part of the country's Vision 2030 as well as the JKIA Master Plan of 2010 stalled midway but plans were revived in November 2020. 

Nairobi Commuter Rail Services

The Nairobi Commuter Rail Service (NCRS) development is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Master Plan which will modernise and expand underutilised railway transport infrastructure facilities within Nairobi and ease traffic congestion on roads. 

Syokimau Railway Station was officially launched by Kibaki on November 13, 2012.

Construction of Makadara and Imara Daima stations were completed and were commissioned in December 2013, by Raila. 

Kenya Railways expanded the service with the introduction of commuter buses in Nairobi under the Jubilee administration. 

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Kenya Railways station at Dandora, Nairobi
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KURA & KeNHA 

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) was established in 2007 and is responsible for the management, development of rehabilitation and maintenance of National Trunk Roads.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) was established in 2007 and inaugurated in September 2008. It is responsible for the development, rehabilitation, management and maintenance of all National Trunk Roads comprising Classes S, A, and B roads.