New road to link Turkana power project

The Kenya National Highway Authority has approved the construction of a 204km road to Lake Turkana Wind Power Project. The plan,  which will cost Sh3.2 billion, is aimed at easing delivery of wind turbines and transformers when construction of the wind power project finally begins.

John Latham,  project manager of Civicon, the company that has won the contract to construct the road, said this will generate more than 500 jobs, 200 of which will go directly to the local community while the rest will be spread countrywide. “ The Northern Kenya area will finally join the rest of the country with the completion of this project as the upgraded road will open up trade, make Marsabit county accessible and allow for other potential investors to set up new businesses. It will improve the security in the region covered by this road network because local authorities will now be able to easily access areas which are un-accessible today,” he said.

Latam added that transportation of goods and services in the area will also receive a major boost as the route will be all weather. The LTWP will provide 300MW of reliable, low cost wind power to the Kenyan National grid which is equivalent to about 20 percent of the current installed electricity generating capacity at a cost of Sh 75 billion. The construction company will sink more boreholes in the area to provide water for the road construction. “ These boreholes will be subsequently handed over to the local communities after the completion of the road contract,” he said.