Contractor Bags Ksh60M Per Kilometre Deal for Murram Road

Constructors build a road
Constructors build a road
(COURTESY)

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has been summoned by the Senate's Committee on Roads and Transportation after a Chinese firm was awarded a tender worth Ksh 60 million per kilometre to lay murram on a road linking Lamu and Garissa.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) awarded the tender worth Ksh27.29 billion to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Territorial Works Ltd.

The murram will cover a total of 453 kilometres. From Lamu to Garissa through Ijara will cover 257km, Hindi-Bodhei-Basuba-Kiunga section will cover 113km while the Ijara-Sangailu-Hulugho will be 83km.

Transport CS James Macharia inspecting the Nairobi Expressway on March 31, 2021
Former Transport CS James Macharia inspecting the Nairobi Expressway on March 31, 2021.
Photo
James Macharia

The amount awarded to the two firms for the repair was higher than the money used for rural and tarmacked roads.

The Senate, led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, want the CS to explain how the tender was awarded.

Macharia was supposed to appear before the Senate on Thursday, August 12, but failed to do so.

The road will help facilitate the transportation of goods between Lamu, southern Ethiopia and Somalia.

In a budget statement, the National Treasury disclosed that the department would prioritise the completion of Nairobi Expressway, James Gichuru-Rironi Road, Construction of Mombasa Port Area Road Development Project, upgrading of Lamu-Ijara-Garissa Road to all-weather standard, Mau Mau Road, Kenol-Sagana-Marua Project and the completion of Nairobi Western Bypass.

Meanwhile, the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) also built the Lamu seaport which started operations in June.

The port can handle large vessels with a carrying capacity ranging from 12,000 to 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The port's operalisation is expected to open up northern Kenya to international trade.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei
The Standard