ISIOLO — The long-held dream of a paved artery slicing through Kenya’s northern frontier moved closer to reality today. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has officially triggered the next stage of the Sh96.75 billion ($750 million) Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, signaling the end of decades of marginalization for the region.

In a definitive update issued Tuesday morning, KeNHA announced it is mobilizing for the second and third phases of the 750-kilometre Isiolo-Mandera highway. The move comes as the initial 195-kilometre stretch from Isiolo to Modogashe approaches substantial completion, a milestone that has already begun to transform the logistics of the region.

Breaking the 'Bad Road' Curse

For generations, the journey from Isiolo to Mandera has been a grueling, bandit-prone odyssey often taking up to four days. KeNHA’s latest directive targets two critical missing links that have historically been bottlenecks for trade and security.

• Phase 2: Construction of the 70-kilometre Modogashe-Samatar section.
• Phase 3: Construction of the 76-kilometre Rhamu-Mandera section.

“This is not just about laying tarmac; it is about erasing the ‘marginalized’ tag from Northern Kenya,” a senior KeNHA official noted during the briefing. “We are moving from the drawing board to the ground on these difficult sections to ensure the entire corridor is seamless by 2027.”

Follow the Money

The project is anchored by a massive $750 million (approx. KES 96.75 billion) financing deal signed with the World Bank in March 2021. The sheer scale of the investment makes it the single largest road project currently underway in East Africa.

Just yesterday, momentum accelerated with the awarding of a $46 million (approx. KES 5.9 billion) contract to Jiangxi Construction Engineering Group for specific corridor works. This rapid succession of contracts signals that the government is racing against time to deliver the project before the next election cycle.

Security Meets Economics

The stakes are higher than just transport. The Isiolo-Mandera corridor traverses areas that have long been playgrounds for bandits and smugglers. By replacing rough tracks with a high-speed highway, security agencies expect to drastically reduce response times to incidents.

Economically, the impact is already being felt. “A truck of livestock that used to lose 20% of its value due to the stress of a four-day journey can now reach Nairobi markets in under a day once this is done,” explained Ahmed Duba, a livestock trader in Habaswein. “That puts money directly into our pockets.”

Furthermore, the project includes the laying of a fiber-optic cable along the entire route, promising to bring high-speed digital connectivity to towns that have historically been communication blackspots.

The Road Ahead

While the progress is palpable, challenges remain. The terrain is unforgiving, and security for construction crews remains a top priority. KeNHA has assured stakeholders that the new phases will include integrated security measures to protect both workers and future road users.

As the heavy machinery rolls into Modogashe and Rhamu, the message is clear: the Northern Frontier is open for business. “We are building a bridge to the future,” the KeNHA statement concluded. “Soon, the question will not be if you can get to Mandera, but how quickly.”