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Ruto unveils building of road linking Kenya and Tanzania

By  The East African

newspaper publisher

What you need to know:

  • Road is part of $61.4 million Malindi-Lunga Lunga/Horohoro-Tanga-Bagamoyo East African coastal road corridor.

Kenya’s President William Ruto has launched the building of the Mtwapa-Kwa Kadzengo-Kilifi (A7) road which will link Kenya and Tanzania.

The road is part of the Sh7.5 billion ($61.4 million) multinational Malindi-Lunga Lunga/Horohoro-Tanga-BagamoyoEast African coastal road corridor.

Ruto promised to put more emphasis on infrastructural developments to boost connectivity, trade and tourism sectors within the East African Community

Related

"This is an important road linking Kenya and Tanzania. It will boost trade and economies between the two countries. It will connect the East African Community in terms of integration, jobs, businesses and eradicate poverty," the Kenyan head of state said.

He was speaking in Mtwapa, Mombasa where launched the first phase of the building of the 40km road.

The Head of State directed the country’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Kenya National Highways Authority to revamp Mtwapa.

Business boom

Business between Kenya and Tanzania is set to rise after the commissioning of the project. The road will be completed within 36 months.

The corridor is being built through a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) in partnership with African Development Fund, EU-African Infrastructure Trust Fund Grant and the Kenyan government.

"I thank our partners and I promise to ensure the resources are utilised properly and nobody is going to abuse the funds in our hands to develop infrastructure," added President Ruto.

AfDB representative Hussein Iman said the road is a crucial project connecting Kenya and Tanzania and will facilitate trade, accessibility and cross border movement.

European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriatte Geiger said roads are significant for growth.

"This is a significant project that will boost connectivity," she said.

Boost tourism

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro said the road will also boost tourism.

"Tourists used to get stuck along this road due to traffic jams. Mtwapa town needed a face-lift and expansion of this road will boost trade in this area. We want Mtwapa to be a business hub to operate for 24 hours," said Mr Mung'aro.

Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said the road will boost trade between Kenya and Tanzania.

In the headlines