Leaders from northern Kenya have thanked the World Bank and the national government for approving US$750m (Kes 81b) for the improvement of Isiolo-Mandera road corridor.
In a statement, Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) Chairman Ali Rioba, who is also the Mandera Governor, described the approval of the loan as the biggest legacy project of President Kenyatta’s government for North Eastern region.
FCDC bloc brings together Mandera, Isiolo, Wajir, Marsabit, Garissa and Tana River counties. Other members are Turkana, Lamu West and Samburu.
Last week, the World Bank Board of Directors approved $750 million in International Development financing “to improve the movement of people and goods, digital connectivity and access to social services” for over 3.2 million people living in the North Eastern region where the Isiolo-Mandera Regional Road Corridor traverses.
The World Bank will finance the upgrading of 365 kilometers of the 740-kilometers Isiolo-Mandera Regional Road Corridor and 30km of spur roads, while the upgrading of the remaining sections will be financed by other development partners. The project also involves laying of a fiber optic cable along the entire 740-kilometer corridor.
“The potential of Northeastern Kenya as a transit and regional trade facilitation zone is presently not fully exploited,” said Josphat Sasia, Lead Transport Specialist and Task Team Leader.
