President William Ruto and China's Xi Jinping witness the signing of the agreements on April 24, 2025/PCSThe extension of the stalled Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is among the key highlights of agreements entered by Kenya and China during President William Ruto's state visit to China.
The agreement signed Thursday will also see various road projects, including the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway, dualed under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
BRI, also known as the One Belt and One Road Initiative (OBOR), is a development strategy proposed by the Chinese government focused on connectivity and cooperation between countries.
Kenya serves as a key hub for China's One Belt and One Road Initiative in Africa and is the largest recipient of Chinese financial aid in the construction of the new Silk Road.
In May 2014, China and Kenya signed a cooperation agreement for the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway.
According to the agreement, the project will be done under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Some 15 other rural roads spread across the country, which are also set to be implemented as per the agreement, will, however, be financed by the China Development Bank.
The SGR project will involve phase 2B stretching from Naivasha to Kisumu and phase 2C from Kisumu to Malaba.
Phase 1 started from Mombasa to Nairobi and 480 kilometers, while 2A is Nairobi to Naivasha.
Also included is the financing for the dualling of the Northern Bypass, the dualling of Kiambu Road to the Northern Bypass, and the construction of Nithi Bridge.
The two countries also signed a Framework Agreement for the implementation of Phase III of Nairobi’s Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS).
ITMS uses intelligent cameras, variable timing traffic lights, and a control centre to observe and control traffic, easing traffic officers' work.
Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Huawei successfully piloted the ITS project on the Western Ringroad from Yaya Centre to Kileleshwa Ring Road, extending to Waiyaki Way in 2018.
The agency signed an agreement with Samsung C&T last year to finance phase one of the project which involves redesigning 25 key junctions in Nairobi to improve traffic flow.
The project also involves the establishment of a traffic management centre at Cabanas along Mombasa road.
Its implementation is expected to reduce the need for traffic police and traffic marshals at junctions.
It will involve installation of traffic signals, sign controllers variable message signs, vehicle enforcement systems as well as vehicle detection systems and CCTV cameras.
This is in addition to the improvement of city junctions to help reduce traffic congestion, enhance urban mobility, and boost productivity for Nairobians.
The newly elevated Eldoret City will also get some roads expanded.
They include construction of Eldoret Eastern bypass, dualling of Cheplasgei-Maili Tisa, upgrading of Mosoriot-Moiben Junction-Chepkoilel University (Kuinet) and Moiben Junction-Marura Centre.
Some other rural road projects across the country will be funded through securitisation strategies.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on railway laws, infrastructure, operation standards, and multimodal transport was also inked.
This is set to lay the groundwork for a modern rail network that connects people and markets across the region.
