The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced that it has secured grant funding from the World Bank to construct a 536-kilometer highway network that will connect seven counties within the Rift Valley region. This massive road infrastructure project will be implemented under the Roads for Rural Economic Development Project (RREDP) framework. In an official notice, the authority invited qualified companies to express their interest in undertaking the consultancy for this major project, which has an estimated budget of 800 million Kenyan Shillings.
This financial backing from the World Bank is expected to significantly boost the Kenyan government’s ongoing efforts to enhance regional connectivity and modernize its transport sector.
The 536-kilometer highway project is split into two primary corridors designed to link various towns and rural trading centers across the Rift Valley. The first corridor, spanning 260 kilometers, will start from Kericho and pass through Ainamoi, Fort Ternan, and the Kengut Border before connecting to Mbogo Valley, Kamelilo, Sirwa, Kipkabus, and Nyaru.
The second corridor covers approximately 276 kilometers and will run through Neissut, Embomos, and Mariwa, among other crucial sections within the designated project area. By cutting across Nakuru, Kericho, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, and Narok counties, this multi-million-shilling infrastructure initiative is poised to transform the socio-economic landscape of the entire region.
The government has already initiated the preliminary phases of implementation by seeking out qualified consultants to conduct a comprehensive socio-economic infrastructure needs assessment for the communities living along these proposed transport corridors.
This study will focus on evaluating the living conditions and infrastructural demands of residents located within a 10-kilometer radius on either side of both highway corridors. KeNHA explained that the consultancy services will encompass socio-economic infrastructure planning, investment planning, and development studies aimed at identifying priority community needs—such as healthcare, education, and water access—to maximize the local benefits of the road project.
To participate in the bidding process, interested international and domestic consulting firms must meet strict eligibility requirements. Firms are required to demonstrate at least 10 years of verified experience in socio-economic infrastructure planning and related consultancy services for large-scale infrastructure projects. Furthermore, they must prove their track record in handling similar assignments within Sub-Saharan Africa, including corridor development studies, infrastructure needs assessments, and rural road investment planning.
KeNHA disclosed that the consultant for this assignment will be selected using the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method in strict accordance with World Bank procurement regulations. Interested and eligible firms have been directed to submit their applications by Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Barabara Plaza in Nairobi. Once successfully completed, this highway network is expected to drastically streamline transport efficiency and accelerate commercial trade across the Rift Valley region.
