More doubt cast on cost of bypass

The controversial cost of Nairobi’s Western Bypass continues to raise eyebrows, with comparisons drawing wide gaps.

That the same contractor building the 28.6km Southern Bypass at Sh17 billion will spend the same amount to do the 16.5km Western Bypass — shorter by 12.1km — is hard to comprehend.

The average cost of Sh1.04 billion per kilometre surpasses all other rates, compared with what the same funding and other contractors have spent on similar roads both in Kenya and other countries.

A source from a government road agency familiar with the design, and who requested not to be named, said he was also shocked by the rate used to price construction of the bypass, given that it had no “special feature”.

“I think this is obvious, like comparing an orange with another, and unless there is something else out of the design, there is no reason why it should be far much expensive than the Southern Bypass, which has almost the same features. Maybe we need to find out, but it is hard to comprehend,” the engineer told the Nation.

The Western Bypass, which is the final link to complete the much-awaited loop of ring roads initiated by the Kibaki administration to decongest traffic in the city, will connect Nairobi's Southern Bypass at Gitaru with the Northern Bypass at Ruaka.

The unusually high cost puts China Road and Bridge Corporation, which is also the main contractor for the standard gauge railway, on the spot, after the Kenya National Highways Authority awarded it the tender despite the disparities in costing.

The Southern Bypass stretches from Mombasa Road near Ole Sereni Hotel and joins the Mombasa-Kisumu highway, including full clover interchanges on Mombasa Road and Ngong Road, and bridges at Community, Dagoretti, Thogoto and Kibera. 

The Western Bypass, which is Sh440 million more costly for every kilometre, will have four lanes with interchanges and overpasses at major junctions in Wangige, Kihara, Ndenderu and Ruaka.