KeNHA Opens Procurement Drive for Technology Under World Bank-Funded Highway Programme

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has invited suppliers to bid for the provision, installation and configuration of 66 software licences under the World Bank-funded Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP). The tender forms part of ongoing implementation activities for one of Kenya's largest transport and connectivity programmes.

According to the procurement notice, the software acquisition has been divided into two lots covering specialised digital tools used in engineering, mapping, data management and project administration. Interested firms may bid for either one lot or both, subject to the requirements outlined in the tender documents.

The first lot covers 25 geospatial software licences on an annual subscription basis together with 10 cloud storage licences. The second lot comprises 15 engineering design software suite licences, 10 document management software licences and six highway analysis software licences, all offered through annual subscriptions.

The procurement is being undertaken through the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, a World Bank-supported programme aimed at upgrading transport infrastructure and expanding digital connectivity in northern Kenya. The initiative is centred on improvements along the Isiolo-Mandera corridor and includes road, fibre-optic and community infrastructure components.

The broader programme covers approximately 740 kilometres of road infrastructure across Meru, Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties. In addition to highway works, the project incorporates digital infrastructure and selected socio-economic facilities intended to serve communities along the route.

For highway agencies, specialised software has become an increasingly important component of project delivery. Geospatial systems support mapping and corridor planning, while engineering design platforms assist with road alignment, structural design and technical analysis. Document management tools are commonly used to coordinate project records, approvals and contract documentation across large infrastructure programmes.

KeNHA said bidding will be conducted through a National Open Competitive Procurement process in accordance with World Bank procurement regulations for Investment Project Financing borrowers. The current framework follows the seventh edition of the regulations, revised in September 2025.

Tender documents are available free of charge through KeNHA's website and the Public Procurement Information Portal. The authority has encouraged interested suppliers to obtain the documents online.

Completed bids must be submitted to KeNHA's headquarters at Barabara Plaza in Nairobi by September 22, 2026. Electronic submissions will not be accepted, and bids received after the deadline will be rejected. The authority plans to open the bids publicly on the same day.

The tender also requires bid securities in the form of unconditional bank guarantees. KeNHA has specified a guarantee of KSh250,000 for Lot One and KSh300,000 for Lot Two. Successful bidders will additionally be subject to beneficial ownership disclosure requirements under World Bank procurement rules.

The software procurement comes as implementation continues across sections of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, which remains one of the country's key infrastructure programmes focused on transport connectivity and digital integration in northern Kenya.