The government of Kenya has signed a Sh163bn deal with Rift Valley Highway, a company owned by Vinci Highways, Vinci Concessions and Meridiam SAS to build a motorway in the country. The respective presidents of France and Kenya attended the signing of the contract in Paris.
The contract is the first public-private partnership (PPP) won by Vinci Concessions in Africa. Financial close of the PPP deal is expected by the end of 2021. The project involves construction of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway project which will last around 42 months and will transform an existing trunk road into a two-lane motorway.
Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway
Vinci Concessions and Meridiam SAS, will finance, build and operate the new, 175-km Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway for 30 years. A World Bank-standard environmental and social impact assessment will be carried out before the consortium, called Rift Valley Highway, can start work. Construction, will be undertaken by Vinci Construction subsidiaries Sogea-Satom in Kenya and Vinci Construction Terrassement.
The road project is a key segment of the Northern Corridor expected to significantly cut the travel time for both people and goods, reducing the cost of doing business time between Nairobi and Mau Summit.
Upon completion, the road project will be the country’s first toll highway outside Nairobi. It will also promote tourism and compliment the standard gauge railway (SGR) services between Naivasha and Malaba Border.
This will be the second road the country has signed PPP on after it handed over the Sh59 bn JKIA-Westland’s Expressway to China Road and Bridge Corporation.
