The World Bank, through its International Development Association (IDA), has approved $750 million in financing for North Eastern Kenya projects; dubbed the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP).
The project seeks to create digital connectivity and access to social services for over 3.2 million people living in the region, as well as improve the movement of people and goods.
The financing will aid in the upgrading of 365 kilometres of the 740-kilometers Isiolo-Mandera Regional Road Corridor and 30 kilometres of spur roads. It will also finance the laying of a fibre optic cable along the 740-kilometre corridor with spurs to local communities. In the long run, this will enhance trade facilitation measures, including border posts and border management systems. It will also ensure the provision of basic socio-economic infrastructure for communities living along the corridor, institutional strengthening, and emergency response measures in case of a disaster or catastrophe during the life of the project.
The developments will thus attract investments, facilitate regional and domestic trade, create jobs, and improve information sharing and access to internet-based opportunities.
The project is expected to take six years of implementation and is the first in a series of projects aimed at supporting the development of regional transport corridors and modal linkages under the Horn of Africa Initiative.
Last month, the World Bank approved a $150 million credit line to improve the living conditions of Kenya’s urban poor in informal settlements. The funds will be used to upgrade roads, drainage, water, sanitation, and street lighting.
