• World Bank to mobilize $550 million for Kenya road project
• Project to upgrade 508 km, boosting regional trade links
• Corridor to cut Nairobi-Mandera travel time to one day

Kenya’s Isiolo-Mandera road corridor project has reached a new milestone, with the World Bank set to mobilize approximately $550 million to finance the project.

The funding will support the modernization of roughly 508 kilometers of the 740-kilometer corridor, aiming to strengthen connectivity, boost trade and support development across the Horn of Africa.

Works will cover 365 kilometers of the main Isiolo-Mandera highway, along with 40 kilometers of secondary roads. The project also includes upgrades to several strategic sections, including Modogashe-Samatar (67 km) and Rhamu-Mandera (76 km), which will be built to reinforced bituminous standards adapted to the region's climatic conditions.

“Regional road corridors in the Horn of Africa cross remote and underserved areas inhabited by disadvantaged communities with comparatively high poverty levels,” said Qimiao Fan, World Bank Division Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda.

Once complete, the infrastructure is expected to cut travel time between Nairobi and Mandera from three days to about one day, while lowering transport and trade costs.

Beyond its national impact, the corridor is part of a broader regional strategy under the Horn of Africa Initiative, which focuses on strengthening economic integration. The route will improve landlocked countries’ access to seaports and boost cross-border trade with Somalia and Ethiopia. It also connects to the LAPSSET Corridor, a key pillar of regional integration centered on the port of Lamu.

In addition to its road component, the project includes the deployment of fiber optic infrastructure to improve digital connectivity. This is expected to support financial inclusion, expand access to online education and accelerate the digitization of public services in underserved areas. Modernized border posts and customs facilities are also planned to streamline trade flows and strengthen border security.

Henoc Dossa