A parliamentary committee has intervened to break a deadlock between Kenya Railways and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority over the redesign of a critical bridge on Likoni Road.
The delay had stalled Nairobi’s infrastructure upgrades and threatened the city’s future electric trains ambitions.
The Public Investments Committee on Commercial and Energy Affairs directed Kenya Railways to secure funding for the bridge after auditors revealed the project was behind schedule, risking taxpayers' value for money.
The Likoni Road upgrade aims to transform the vital Jogoo-Mombasa Road link into a dual carriageway with walkways, drains, and bridge expansions.
A dispute arose when Kenya Railways rejected Kura’s initial design for the Likoni Road bridge, insisting on a minimum clearance height of 7.01 meters—1.4 meters taller than the existing structure—to accommodate future electric trains.
The change halted construction, leaving the Sh890 million road upgrade project incomplete despite a September 2022 deadline.
The Likoni Road bridge section is thus still pending, slowing down motorists seeking to manoeuvre Jogoo Road and Mombasa Road gridlocks.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu flagged the delays, noting incomplete bridges on Likoni and Enterprise roads and unfinished sections of Shreeji Road, with overall progress at 84.64 per cent.
Pokot South MP David Pkosing, who chairs the committee, ordered Kenya Railways to lead fundraising efforts for the Sh400 million bridge, and for Kura to speed up the remaining works.
“We directed Kenya Railways to lead fundraising for the bridge to reach the required height,” Pkosing said.
This was after it emerged that Kura had no budget for the Sh400 million bridge - an underpass for trains shuttling from Nairobi’s main station to Makadara.
Kenya Railways chief executive officer Philip Mainga said the corporation would chip in as ordered by MPs, saying the change of design was to standardise the bridge.
“We’re preparing for electric trains, so the bridge must be built with those needs in mind,” he said, dismissing concerns about cost overruns.
The electric trains plan is part of the much-awaited Nairobi Railway City project.
Mainga said Kenya Railways has been contributing to some of the roads and bridges that Kura has been building across the country.
“We shared the designs with Kura and agreed on what to do. The road agency has no budget. We will create additional budget and allow Kura to finish the bridge,” he said.
On whether the change of design would incur additional costs, Mainga said: “We don't see a cost overrun. If we can agree on a variation, we can help Kura.”
Kura director general Silas Kinoti welcomed the resolution, noting the agency would reallocate funds from the Likoni-Enterprise road project to support the bridge.
He said despite earlier agreements with the contractor for the Sh890 million road upgrade project, the law allows for variations.
“We’ll adjust budgets to minimise strain on public funds,” he said, though lawmakers criticised both agencies for prolonging the impasse.
Kaloleni MP Paul Katana questioned why it took parliamentary intervention to resolve the issue.
“Did they have to appear before the committee to tell us what they intend to do?” Kaloleni MP Paul Katana asked, even as members pushed for definite timelines for completing the project.
Pkosing directed Kura to proceed and conclude the road as envisaged and with the adjustments to the bridge, as the works were still at below 85 per cent.
“Let us speed up the remaining works and complete the approaches to the bridge,” he said, further directing the agency to allow motorists to use the road.
Regarding the timelines, Mainga said the corporation and the roads agency would sit and draw a budget for the work.
“We will initiate the process as soon as possible. We’ll finalise the budget and decide whether to retain the current contractor or hire anew,” the Kenya Railways boss said.
The contract was awarded to a construction company at a sum of Sh892,661,116 in September 2020 for 24 months.
The works were expected to be completed by September 2022, and the contractor was to maintain the section for 36 months.
The contractor was also to build a river bridge on Enterprise Road, put concrete drains on the sides, pipe culverts and other drainage works, and road furniture.
Kura said it would improve the rugged approaches to the existing Likoni Road bridge.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
With Kenya Railways and Kura now collaborating on financing and design, the project could finally advance, marking a small but pivotal step toward Nairobi’s electric trains future.
