Kenyan President William Ruto has started construction on the Mtwapa-Kwa-Kadzingo-Kilifi (A7) road that will connect Kenya and Tanzania.
The road is part of the sh7.5 billion (US$61.4 million) Malindi-Lunga Lunga/Horohoro-Tanga-Bagamoyo multinational coastal road corridor.
Ruto pledged to focus more on infrastructure development to boost connectivity, trade and the tourism sector in the East African Community. “This is an important route between Kenya and Tanzania.
It will boost trade and the economy between the two countries. It will link the East African Community in terms of integration, employment, economy and poverty reduction”, said the head of Kenyan state.
He was speaking in Mtwapa, Mombasa, when the first phase of construction of the 40 km road began.
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The head of state ordered the country’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Kenya Highway Authority to renovate Mtwapa.
Business between Kenya and Tanzania is expected to increase sharply after the start of the project. Although the road construction is expected to be completed in 36 months.
The corridor is being built with a grant from the African Development Bank (ADB) in partnership with the African Development Fund, a grant from the Euro-African Infrastructure Trust Fund and the Government of Kenya.
President Ruto added, “I thank our partners and promise to ensure that resources are used properly and that no one misuses the money in our hands for infrastructure development.”
African Development Bank official Hussein Iman said the road is an important project linking Kenya and Tanzania and will facilitate cross-border trade, access and movement.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriati Geiger said roads are important for growth. “This is an important project that will improve communication,” she said.
