Kenya Receives Sh81 Billion Loan from World Bank for Road and ICT Projects

The World Bank Board has approved an Sh81 billion loan to Kenya for the upgrade of key infrastructure projects in the North-Eastern region.

The funds will be used to upgrade half of the 740-kilometer Isiolo-Mandera road, a further 30km of spur roads, and laying of a fiber-optic cable along the corridor, according to Kenya’s World Bank Country Director Keith Hansen.

Hansen said the upgrade is aimed at improving the movement of people and goods, digital connectivity, and access to social services for more than 3.2 million people living in the region.

“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,” Hansen said in a statement.

The World Bank noted that projects financed through the loan will not only attract investments, but also facilitate regional and domestic trade, create employment opportunities, and improve information sharing. 

“Promoting equal opportunities across the country and linkages in the sub-region will strengthen Kenya’s transformation from a low middle income to a middle-income country by 2030.” 

“We believe that this investment, envisioned as a backbone project under the North and North Eastern Development Initiative, will contribute significantly to the Government’s efforts to ensure shared prosperity,” added Hansen.