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The African Development Bank has granted a $1.4 million (sh5.2b)grant to the East African Community for a feasibility study on the Kisumu-Kisian-Busitema-Busia Expressway. This project is part of the Northern Corridor, which plays a vital role in transporting cargo to landlocked EAC Partner States.

The African Development Bank (AfDB), through its New Partnership for Africa’s Development and Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF), has officially granted $1.4 million (sh5.2b) to the East African Community (EAC) for the purpose of conducting a feasibility study on the Kisumu-Kisian-Busitema-Busia Expressway Project.

The Expressway project constitutes an integral part of the Northern Corridor, spanning from Mombasa to Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, via the Mombasa port. This corridor serves as the primary conduit for transporting the majority of cargo arriving at the Indian Ocean ports to the five landlocked EAC Partner States.

At present, the road sections comprising this project consist of two-lane single-carriageway bitumen segments that endure significant congestion due to increased traffic flow, both for cargo and passengers. Consequently, this congestion has led to extended travel times, resulting in heightened vehicle operating costs and overall business expenses.

The primary objective of the feasibility study is to assess the economic feasibility of elevating the existing multinational road segments from single-carriageway standards to expressway standards. This project holds a prominent position on the agendas of both Uganda and Kenya, and its completion is expected to significantly contribute to the provision of essential economic infrastructure required to achieve concrete development outcomes within the region.

In a statement delivered at the launch of the feasibility study on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the EAC Deputy Secretary General responsible for Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political sectors, expressed gratitude towards AfDB for its invaluable support of the EAC in preparing the study for the Multinational Kenya/Uganda: Kisumu – Kisian – Busia / Kakira – Malaba and Busitema – Busia Expressway. He emphasized the potential of this project to stimulate the economy and foster development in the EAC region.

Ariik, who represented the EAC Secretary General, Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki, at the event, highlighted that the feasibility study would result in the development of an advanced corridor, transcending the conventional concept of a transport corridor by incorporating digital technology and addressing the social and economic needs of EAC citizens as its central elements. This transformative initiative is poised to revolutionize the movement of goods and services between Nairobi and Kampala, and beyond.

The Deputy Secretary General acknowledged the ongoing commitment of AfDB, particularly through its NEPAD-IPPF facility, in supporting the EAC integration agenda, which commenced as far back as 2004.

Ariik disclosed that, to date, eight (8) multinational road projects have been successfully prepared for bankability under the EAC Multinational Road Development Programme, with five of them proceeding to the investment phase. Nonetheless, he underscored that the regional transport infrastructure within the EAC still faces challenges, primarily due to missing links on cross-border transport corridors and inadequacies in both hard and soft infrastructure concerning roads, railways, air transport, and inland waterways.

Ariik emphasized that up to 80% of projects fail to materialize due to insufficient preparation, particularly in terms of conducting feasibility studies to assess their economic, financial, environmental, social, and technical viability. He noted that the grants provided by NEPAD-IPPF to the EAC have facilitated the preparation of high-quality, bankable regional infrastructure projects capable of attracting funding from both the public and private sectors.

Furthermore, the Deputy Secretary General informed the Bank that the EAC is in the process of organizing the 5th Retreat of Heads of State, which will focus on infrastructure development and financing. This event will bring together political leadership and investors, with an emphasis on showcasing regional priority projects. He extended an invitation to AfDB and NEPAD-IPPF to participate in the event and highlight the progress made in supporting infrastructure development within the region.

Epifanio Carvarlho de Melo, the AfDB Acting Manager for Infrastructure and Partnerships Division, spoke on behalf of the Bank’s Director of Infrastructure, Mike Salawou, reaffirming AfDB’s dedication to collaborating closely with the EAC to ensure the success of crucial projects poised to transform the regional economy. He emphasized the opportunity for mutual learning, experience-sharing, and the potential for a prosperous future for all residents of the region.

Historical Perspective:

Over the past two decades, the EAC has overseen the construction of four multinational roads, namely: Arusha-Namanga-Athi River, Arusha-Holili/Taveta-Voi, Malindi-Mombasa-Lunga Lunga/Tanga-Bagamoyo, and Nyakanazi-Kasulu-Manyovu/Rumonge-Rutunga-Bujumbura roads. In addition, feasibility studies and detailed designs have been conducted for three additional projects: the Masaka-Mutukula/Mutukula-Kyaka and Bugene-Kasulo-Kumnazi road, the Lusahunga-Rusumo/Kayonza-Kigali road, and the Uvinza-Kanyani and Uvinza-Mpanda/Gisuru-Rusengo and Makebuko-Bugarama roads.

The EAC is now eager to undertake feasibility studies for the subject road, which is a critical link within the Northern Corridor, one of the eight roads that make up the Trans Africa Highways network. These studies will be conducted as a comprehensive package to assess the economic feasibility and financial viability of developing the project components, encompassing roads and border posts that connect the two countries to the wider East Africa region and beyond.

Broadly, the proposed feasibility study will encompass the following components:

Conducting comprehensive feasibility studies, environmental and social scoping, and preliminary designs for all project components.

Carrying out bankability studies for the implementation phase of the project.