Name and Location
Southern Bypass road decongestion project, Nairobi, Kenya.

Project Description
The project is envisaged to ease heavy traffic congestion in Nairobi’s city centre through the 30 km Southern Bypass road. The road currently diverts from the Mombasa–Kisumu highway near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and rejoins the highway at Limuru on the outskirts of the capital.

The project is one among several road infrastructure projects identified by the Kenyan government as key in materialising its Vision 2030 development plan, which seeks to transform the country into a middle-income economy.

Value
The value of the project has not been disclosed; however, the Chinese government, through the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank), plans to extend a $210-million concessionary loan to Kenya to implement the project.

Duration
Construction is expected to begin in April 2011, and will be completed 36 months thereafter.

Client
Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha).

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Africa Waste & Environment Management Centre (Awemac) (environment consultant); China Road & Bridge Corporation (main contractor); and China Exim Bank (loan finance).

Latest Developments
Negotiations with the Chinese government for the loan facility are expected to be final in the next two months.

On Budget and on Time?
The project is behind schedule by three years, owing to lack of funding.

Contact Details for Project Information
Awemac, tel +254 20 201 2408 or email awemac_ken@yahoo.com.
China Road & Bridge Corporation (Kenya), tel +254 20 387 7955/387 0956, fax +254 20 387 0334 or email crbc_ke@126.com.
Kenha, tel +254 20 801 3842, fax +254 20 802 2174/872 0044 or email info@kenha.co.ke.