Companies owned by Chinese nationals have continued to dominate construction works in the country.
According to the latest analysis published by a local daily, Business Daily, on Tuesday, January 25, Chinese run firms are now undertaking half of the urban roads projects in different counties.
The publication reveals that Chinese contractors have won over 50 per cent of Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) projects. They are constructing 14 roads in different counties that amount to Ksh25.5 billion.
These road projects have been running from the last financial year to date. This data further proves that Asian companies have overtaken Kenya's local firms that received Ksh13.3 billion which is 26 per cent of the total contracts issued by KURA.
In projects being undertaken by Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), Chinese firms are still dominant controlling 85 per cent of the projects.
In general, Kenyan companies emerged third with Japan taking the second position in the construction of Kenyan roads.
“The Chinese companies are now doing Kerra (Kenya Rural Roads Authority) class D roads. Kenyan companies who used to be awarded these contracts have been forced out only for the Chinese companies with shared apartment addresses to be awarded six to 10 jobs," a local contractor told Business Daily.
A Chinese firm known as Tosha Holdings is tasked with upgrading Upper Hill Roads, Eastlands Roads Phase I and constructing the Thika Bypass as well.
Another firm, Wu Yi Ltd, is building Waiyaki Way-Redhill Link Road to bitumen standard and Kenyatta University Footbridge over Railway Line.
The government, on many occasions, has defended awarding Chinese companies contracts noting that they are reliable and deliver their projects on time.
Other companies undertaking major projects in the country include the famous H-Young (EA) Limited which is constructing the Meru Bypass Roads, rehabilitating Eastleigh Roads Phase II, and building Ngong Road–Kibera–Kungu Karumba–Langata Road to bitumen standard.
China Aerospace Construction Group is building the Kangundo Road–Greater Eastern Bypass Link Road, Isfahan Contractors are making improvements on Lady Irene-Mandizini-Muslim-Nambaya-Junction in Bungoma while Nakuru CBD roads are being maintained by Weihai International Economic & Technical Cooperative Limited.
Tinfra Engineering is rehabilitating Mathare Roads, Qingjian International Group is dualling Ngong Road, that is the Dagoretti Corner-Karen Roundabout Section, while Sinohydro is undertaking the Nairobi Outering Road Improvement Project.
Transport Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia, appreciating the work done by Chinese companies, explained that they bring skilled people on board who work 24 hours to ensure the projects are finished on time.
Other projects in the country that have been undertaken by Chinese firms include the Nairobi Expressway, Standard Gauge Railway, the Oil terminal in Mombasa and other road projects such as the Southern and Eastern bypass in Nairobi.
