Rural Road Tenders Open for Bitumen Upgrading Across Five Counties

The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has formally invited eligible contractors to submit bids for the upgrading of ten road sections to bitumen standards. This procurement exercise, categorized under Lot 7 of the authority's current infrastructure cycle, covers rural networks in Nyamira, Kisii, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Taita Taveta counties. The projects are financed through the Government of Kenya Development Vote.

In Nyamira, the authority has identified the Magombo to Bondeni, Tombe to Isinta and Gitaru, and the Riamoni to Esani and Nyangori routes for improvement. These works aim to transition the existing surfaces to all-weather bitumen standards. Simultaneously, in Kisii, the tender covers the Keroka to Ibacho and Kiamokama road, alongside the Kenyoro SDA to Riana Market and the Kerina to Nyasagati and Mwata sections.

Moving to the central and eastern regions, the Kararitiri to Rukuriri and Kathageri to Kanyuambora road in Embu is slated for upgrading. In Tharaka Nithi, the procurement focus is on the Chiakariga to Marimanti route. The final segment of this tender involves the Voi to Sagala road in Taita Taveta, a project intended to enhance connectivity within the coastal hinterland.

The authority has scheduled mandatory pre-tender site visits for late February 2026. Bidders for the Nyamira projects are expected to meet on February 19, while those interested in the Kisii, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Taita Taveta works have their site visits scheduled for February 20. These visits are a prerequisite for submission, and contractors must obtain a certificate signed by the respective Regional Directors.

Tender documents will be available for download from the official KeRRA website starting February 16, 2026. The submission deadline is set for March 6, 2026, at 11:00 am. Completed documents must be enclosed in plain sealed envelopes and deposited in the tender box at Barabara Plaza in Nairobi.

This latest round of tenders is part of a broader infrastructure push as the state targets the rehabilitation of rural networks to facilitate easier transport of goods and services. The project specifications include rigorous serialization of all submitted pages and adherence to the Kenya Roads Act 2007 guidelines.