The Government of Kenya has officially announced June 30, 2030, as the firm completion deadline for the multi-billion-shilling 740-kilometre Isiolo-Mandera highway. This milestone follows the successful finalization of financial commitments by the World Bank and other international development partners, securing full funding for the ambitious infrastructure corridor.
Roads and Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar confirmed the development during the project’s Second Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Report Validation Workshop. According to the ministry, the entire route is now comprehensively financed through a collaborative framework involving the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and various Arab development funds.
Under the financial breakdown, the World Bank is spearheading the financing for 508 kilometres of the highway. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank is backing the 142-kilometre Elwak-Rhamu section, and Arab development banks are underwriting the 90-kilometre Samatar-Wajir stretch. The total cost of the massive KSh 168 billion project is expected to completely reshape transport dynamics across the northeastern region.
Construction works are already well underway, with more than 50 kilometres of the highway having been successfully paved with asphalt. Transport officials have urged implementing agencies to fast-track remaining construction phases to ensure the project meets the newly established 2030 deadline.
The highway traverses Meru, Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties, serving as a critical economic artery designed to pull historically marginalized regions into mainstream national commerce. Beyond linking local communities to major markets, the upgraded corridor will act as a vital international trade route connecting Kenya to neighboring Ethiopia and Somalia.
Speaking on the broader scope of the initiative, PS Daghar emphasized that the value of the project extends beyond physical pavement. The initiative incorporates major auxiliary components designed to uplift regional socio-economic conditions. Among these is a digital infrastructure rollout that will see the installation of approximately 1,000 kilometres of high-capacity fibre-optic cables alongside the transport corridor.
Additionally, the government plans to establish One-Stop Border Posts alongside dedicated trade facilitation centres at strategic border points with Ethiopia and Somalia. These additions are projected to ease the cross-border movement of people and cargo, drastically reduce transit times, and lower the overall cost of doing business in the Horn of Africa.
