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The Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) have issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) to the shortlisted three firms for the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway.

Bids are due in February 2018.

The shortlisted consortia are:

• Consortium of Mota – Engil (Lead member), Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers Seed Partnership (AIIM), Egis and Orascom.
• Consortium of IL&FS Transportation Networks Limited (Lead member) and ITNL International.
• SK5+ Consortium, formed by Strabag (Lead member), Kolin Insaat Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret and Group Five Construction.
• Rift Valley Connect, comprised by VINCI Highways (Lead member), VINCI Concessions and Meridiam Infrastructure Africa Fund (MIAF).

The winning consortium will be responsible for the of widening, improvement, operation and maintenance of various sections of highway between Nairobi and Mau Summit. The project, namely includes: 

• Widening of 175 km of the A8 highway between Rironi and Mau Summit to become a 4 Lane dual carriageway
• Strengthening of 57.8 km of the A8-South highway between Rironi and Naivasha; and
• Operation and maintenance of 12.43 km of the A8 highway between Gitaru and Rironi and 28.6 km of Nairobi Southern Bypass.

The project will involve an estimated investment of US$550 million.

The main road between Nairobi and Mau Summit is part of the A8 highway and of the Northern Corridor which connects the Port of Mombasa via Nairobi to Malaba at the border with Uganda and onwards to Kampala.

The Northern Corridor is the busiest and most important transport corridor in East and Central Africa, providing a gateway through Kenya from Mombasa Port via road, rail and pipeline to the landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Eastern DR Congo.

Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats (ICT) Ltd of India was appointed as transaction advisors (TA) for the project. They carried out feasibility studies, prepared tendering documents and supported the government during the tender process.