Talks between Kenya and China over the construction of the Nairobi Southern by-pass are almost complete, Roads minister Franklin Bett has said.
According to the minister, negotiations for the loan agreement are at the final stages and construction work on the road will kick off soon.
“We have concluded the negotiations and we will soon be meeting to sign the bilateral agreement to construct the road,” said Bett.
The Southern by-pass, expected to cost about Sh17.5 billion, will link heavy traffic flow on the Mombasa Road near the Ole Sereni Hotel running along the Nairobi National Park fence across Langata Road into Kikuyu town to join the Nairobi-Nakuru highway at Rironi near Limuru. The 28.6km road is expected to cost Sh17.5 billion.
China will also fund the construction of the Great Southern by-pass connecting Mombasa highway with Nairobi- Narok- Bomet- Kisii highway at Suswa.“We expect that level of work to be complete within 30-36 months,” said Bett.
The minister also said he was contented with the work being done by Chinese firms in road construction.
Apart from the massive Thika Road expansion project, the Eastern and Northern bypasses are also under construction – estimated to cost more than Sh10 billion, of which Sh8.5 billion came from the Chinese government.
