KeNHA Sets Timeline for El Wak-Rhamu Road Following AfDB Funding

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has officially moved to the next phase of the Horn of Africa Gateway Road Project by establishing a definitive construction timeline for the El Wak-Rhamu section. This development follows the formal confirmation of funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB), which is the primary financier for this specific corridor.

The 142-kilometre stretch between El Wak and Rhamu is a critical link within the larger 750-kilometre Mandera-Isiolo road project. This corridor is designed to improve connectivity between Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, facilitating smoother transit through a region that has historically faced significant logistical challenges due to poor road conditions.

Construction activities on the El Wak-Rhamu segment are expected to commence shortly, as KeNHA has already concluded the preliminary procurement and planning stages. The authority indicated that the project will be executed in distinct lots to ensure efficiency, but the immediate focus remains on the mobilization of contractors to the site.

President William Ruto recently inspected progress on other sections of the Mandera-Isiolo road, specifically the Kula Mawe-Garbatulla section. His visit underscored the government's commitment to completing the northern corridor, which is intended to serve as a backbone for trade and security in the North Eastern province.

The funding from the AfDB covers not only the civil works but also the implementation of social amenities along the route. These include the construction of water pans, market stalls, and veterinary facilities, which are intended to support the pastoralist communities residing along the road’s path.

The El Wak-Rhamu road will be built to international trunk road standards, featuring a bitumen surface and wide shoulders to accommodate heavy freight vehicles. Engineering specifications for the project include specialized drainage systems to handle the flash floods common in the arid terrain of Mandera County.

For the residents of El Wak and Rhamu, the upgrade from a gravel surface to a paved road is expected to reduce travel times significantly. Currently, the trip between these two points can take several hours or even days during the rainy season, when the existing earth road becomes impassable.

Local leaders have previously called for the expedited commencement of this section, noting that it is essential for the delivery of medical supplies and the movement of livestock to markets. With the AfDB funds now secured and the timeline set, KeNHA is under pressure to meet its delivery targets.

The Horn of Africa Gateway Road Project is one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in the country, with various segments at different stages of completion. While the Isiolo-Kulamawe section is already seeing active paving, the El Wak-Rhamu link remained one of the final pieces of the puzzle requiring financial closure.

KeNHA’s regional engineers are currently finalizing the site handover protocols. Once the contractors are on-site, the project is slated to run for a period of 36 months, though the authority is pushing for an accelerated schedule to align with the broader national infrastructure goals.