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The completion of the first-ever privately funded road project in Kenya undertaken in Kajiado County has resulted in an economic windfall for the local residents.
Construction of the road estimated to have cost Sh 11billion began in the early years of the Jubilee administration and was split into three stretches, each with its own contractor. The 230km road cuts across all the five constituencies in Kajiado County.
The road is under the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra) low volume seal (LVS) roads category, which was created following a presidential directive to build 10,000kms of roads countrywide. The annuity financing model used in the road project allowed private contractors to design, build and maintain public roads using their own resources, with the Treasury reimbursing lenders at a uniform rate for cash advanced for the projects. The annuity model also reduces Kenya’s reliance on foreign loans to fund projects, thereby easing public debt.
Development courtesy of the road
Since its completion, the road project has witnessed doubling of land values in the area in just under one year. At least 5 new towns have also cropped up along the freshly tarmacked road over the last year. According to the County Governor Joseph ole Lenku, the new road cuts across horticultural belts in Eselenkei and Isinya transforming the areas into trade hubs due to the ease of access to the farms. It has opened the area to huge food markets in the county’s satellite towns of Kitengela, Isinya, Kiserian, Ngong, and Ongata Rongai.
“We are hopeful that investors will put up high-end tourist vacation homes along the road. Kajiado is strategically a tourist destination town and we are optimistic of reaping more benefits now,” said the governor.