The construction of a key road linking Kenya to Ethiopia started on Wednesday (November 7th) when Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki launched the Turbi-Moyale road project. The construction of the road, which will cost about US$176 million “will have a big impact on the wider East Africa region in terms of trade and regional integration,” President Kibaki said. He pointed out that the road will also enhance trade between Kenya and Ethiopia as well as open up Northern Kenya to more trade and business and contribute to an increase in the volume of Ethiopian goods transiting through the port of Mombasa. President Kibaki added that Kenya expected that “on completion, this road will result in reduction of transport costs, shortening of transit times for imports and exports, and reduction in vehicle operating costs.” The Turbi-Moyale road is the final Kenyan section of the Trans-Africa Highway Corridor; and the 122 km section is the third phase of the Isiolo-Moyale road corridor being upgraded to bitumen standards by the government with the support of the African Development Bank. The project will incorporate the construction of a One-Stop Border Post at Moyale and a weighbridge which will further facilitate trade and transport between Kenya and Ethiopia.
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* Originally published on A Week in the Horn – Nov. 9, 2012 issue, titled “Kenya development corridor to boost trade with Ethiopia”. Items from A Week in the Horn are re-published here with a permission to do so.

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