Chinese firm wins tender to expand Kenya's key road

NAIROBI — A Chinese firm has been awarded a contract to expand a 9.8-kilometer stretch of road in the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenyan authorities said Tuesday.

The Kenyan Urban Roads Authority (KURA) signed the deal, worth about $20 million, with the China Qinjian International Group for the dualling of a stretch of the road from Dagoretti Corner to Karen Shopping Center.

"The project is fully funded by the government through the Development Vote and is expected to be complete within 24 months," KURA said in a statement.

The dualling project will cover three sections: Dagoretti Corner-Karen Roundabout (6.2km), Karen Road (1.9km) and a small section of Langata Road from Karen shopping center (1.7km).

KURA said the dualling is intended to ease movement of traffic, improve urbanization and bring economic growth especially to Karen and Ngong Town residents considering the unmatched development experienced in this part of Nairobi and Kajiado Counties.

This project came in as part of the construction and infrastructure upgrades meant to elevate Nairobi city's status and its environs and achieve the Vision 2030 objective of transforming the country to a middle-income economy.

China Qinjian International Group, established in 2008, has been involved in multi-billion construction works in Philippines, Botswana and Singapore. This is its first entry in construction in Kenya.