Eng. Kefa Seda

IMPORTANT

Firms with expertise in infrastructure planning, PPP transaction advisory, transport economics, engineering, environmental assessment, and project development are encouraged to express interest in the Mau Summit–Eldoret–Malaba (A8) Road Capacity Enhancement Project.

The Mau Summit–Eldoret–Malaba corridor is one of Kenya’s most strategic transport arteries, carrying a substantial share of the freight and passenger traffic linking the Port of Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the wider East African region. Its capacity enhancement is expected to improve mobility, reduce logistics costs, strengthen regional trade, and support economic activity across multiple counties along the Northern Corridor.

Strong project preparation is fundamental to successful PPP delivery. Rigorous feasibility studies, sound transaction structuring, and comprehensive technical assessments are essential in developing bankable infrastructure projects capable of attracting long term investment and delivering sustainable infrastructure outcomes.

Eligible firms are encouraged to review the procurement documents and submit their Expressions of Interest within the stipulated timelines.

Happy Madaraka Day fellow Kenyans.

The Menengai Geothermal Development Project continues to stand out as one of Kenya’s most strategic clean energy Public Private Partnership models, demonstrating how deliberate public sector de risking can unlock long term private investment into critical national infrastructure.

Today, together with PS for National Treasury, Dr. Dr. Chris Kiptoo, PS State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management Mr. Cyrell Odede, PS Roads Eng. Mbugua, and officials from the Public Private Partnerships Kenya Committee, we undertook an inspection tour of the Menengai Geothermal Project in Nakuru County to assess the progress of the ongoing geothermal power generation programme being implemented through a structured partnership framework between the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

Under this model, GDC undertakes the high risk and capital intensive upstream activities including geothermal resource exploration, appraisal drilling, steam field development, reservoir management, and steam gathering infrastructure before supplying verified geothermal steam to private power producers for electricity generation and dispatch into the national grid. This government led de risking framework substantially improves project bankability, lowers investor exposure to exploration uncertainty, accelerates private sector participation, and strengthens financing viability for large scale geothermal infrastructure.

The first phase of the development targets 105MW through three separate 35MW power plants being developed by Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power Limited, Globeleq Menengai Limited, and OrPower Twenty Two Limited. Upon completion, the projects are expected to strengthen baseload electricity supply, enhance grid stability, support industrial productivity, reduce pressure on thermal generation, and reinforce Kenya’s position as a global leader in renewable energy development.

The Menengai model continues to provide an important reference point on how governments can strategically undertake early stage infrastructure and resource risks while leveraging private sector capital, operational expertise, and generation efficiency in delivery of commercially sustainable infrastructure. The framework is increasingly becoming significant in expanding long term energy security while supporting manufacturing growth, investment attraction, and rising national electricity demand driven by economic expansion.

Today’s inspection of the ongoing KDF Housing PPP Projects at Gilgil and Lanet Barracks in Nakuru County confirmed the significant progress being realised under the KDF Housing Program, with construction at Gilgil now at 80 percent completion while the Lanet project has reached 90 percent completion.

Implemented under the Build Transfer PPP framework, the projects continue to support ongoing efforts to address the estimated 65,000 housing unit deficit within the Kenya Defence Forces through modern and dignified accommodation for military personnel.

The broader PPP programme is delivering 3,069 housing units across five KDF installations, including 697 units at Gilgil Barracks, 932 units at Lanet Barracks, 788 units at Nanyuki Barracks, 152 units at Mariakani Barracks, and 500 units at Roysambu Barracks, which were completed and commissioned last year.

The Affordable Housing Program is further complementing these interventions through the delivery of an additional 10,000 housing units for KDF personnel, while ongoing considerations under the PPP framework are expected to further expand housing delivery in order to progressively bridge the existing accommodation gap.

The projects are being financed through a structured framework that leverages housing allowances to support long term project sustainability and delivery under the PPP model. Construction across the remaining sites is now in the final phase, with completion expected within the next one month.

The continued progress demonstrates the growing capacity of Public Private Partnerships to accelerate strategic public infrastructure delivery, mobilise private sector investment and efficiency, and strengthen sustainable housing development within critical national institutions.

The Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway Project is rapidly taking shape on the ground as large scale implementation activities continue advancing across multiple sections of the corridor under the Public Private Partnership framework.

Today, I accompanied PS National Treasury Dr. Chris Kiptoo, PS Public Investments and Asset Management Cyrell Odede, PS Roads Eng. Joseph Mbugua, and members of the PPP Committee during an inspection tour of the ongoing works where major earthworks, excavation activities, culvert installation, drainage works, embankment formation, fill layer processing, site clearance, traffic management interventions, and broader contractor mobilization efforts were all progressing steadily across different sections of the project corridor.

The inspection covered the two project sections currently being undertaken by the CRBC/NSSF Consortium along the Rironi–Gilgil section and Shandong Hi Speed along the Gilgil–Mau Summit section, where deployment of additional technical teams, engineering personnel, and heavy machinery continues accelerating implementation progress toward targeted completion and commissioning for public usage by June next year.

Being implemented under the Design, Finance, Build, Operate, Maintain and Transfer model, the project remains one of Kenya’s most strategic transport infrastructure investments expected to substantially ease congestion, improve travel efficiency, strengthen cargo mobility, and enhance regional trade connectivity along the Northern Corridor.

The project scope includes development of dual carriageway sections along the corridor alongside associated rehabilitation, upgrading, and toll infrastructure works designed to support long term transport efficiency, logistics reliability, and sustainable corridor management.

The progress already being realized on site continues reflecting the growing maturity and effectiveness of Kenya’s PPP framework in mobilizing long term infrastructure financing, engineering expertise, institutional collaboration, and private sector efficiency toward delivery of transformative national infrastructure.