Transport Infrastructure is the first focal sector of Kenya’s Country Strategy Programme for the 10th European Development Fund with 126.8 million Euros allocated for the period 2008-2013 to support the Government of Kenya in upgrading the road network including regional, urban, rural and tourist roads.
The planned activities encompass
Capacity building support to the Ministry of Roads and the Road Authorities in the framework of the on-going policy and institutional reform process for improved road sector governance and more efficient road network management
Regional Roads Component: Construction of the 122 kilometres long Merille – Marsabit Road section of the Isiolo–Moyale corridor to Ethiopia expected to enhance regional economic integration
Urban Roads component: Construction of 10.5 kilometres of new road links plus pedestrian footpaths and cycle tracks in Nairobi City for improved traffic management.
Rural Access Roads Component: Rehabilitation of rural access roads in high agricultural potential districts of Eastern Province to increase accessibility through the use of labor-intensive techniques to maximize job creation.
Tourist Roads Component: Construction of a bridge link in Tsavo East National Park and upgrading access roads within Aberdares and Mt. Kenya National Parks to boost tourism.
Road Transport
Road transport accounts for 80% of the total movement of passengers and freight in Kenya. Generally, roads are the only means of access to rural communities. The public road network in Kenya is about 160,886 kilometres in length.
Railways
The railway network administered by the Kenya Railways Corporation with a 1,083 kilometres main line from Mombasa to Kisumu and Malaba. Freight services constitute about 95% of railway operations and income. Currently the railway system carries about 2.4 million tonnes of cargo per annum which is about half capacity.
The Kenya and Uganda Railways mainline systems are under jointly concession to a private operator, Rift Valley Railways Consortium (RVR) in an attempt to increase efficiency.
Air Transport
Air transport is managed by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) established in 1991. KAA operates nine major airports nationwide, including 3 international airports and 250 airstrips around the country.
Maritime Transport
Kenya has one sea port at Mombasa which is operated by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). The port has 16 deep water berths. Cargo traffic through Mombasa port is about 20 million tonnes in year 2011 including 770,000 TEUs of container traffic. KPA also operates two inland container depots in Nairobi and Kisumu. KPA’s strategy is to introduce private sector management and financing so as to improve the port’s performance, starting with the new container terminal under construction, conventional berths, oil terminals and marine craft.
Pipeline Transport
The oil pipeline managed by the Kenya Pipeline Company from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi 450 kilometres with extensions to Eldoret 325 kilometres and Kisumu 121 kilometres.The pipeline carries about 4 million m3 of petroleum products per year
The proposal to extend pipeline transport to Uganda
The first pipeline is the extension of the current one that brings oil products from Mombasa to Eldoret in Kenya to Kampala (Uganda) and Kigali (Rwanda) and the second pipeline will be constructed to carry crude oil from Kampala to Lamu