The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has launched an international tender for the implementation of the second phase of the Nairobi Intelligent Transport System (ITS), a major project aimed at easing traffic congestion and modernising mobility within the capital.
According to a procurement notice issued by KURA, the project will be financed through a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
The authority said the project, officially known as the Nairobi Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Establishment and Junctions Improvement Project, Phase II, is backed by financing amounting to $83.8 million (about Sh10.8 billion).
“The Government of the Republic of Kenya has received a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea, from the resources of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the Republic of Korea, in the amount of USD 83,834,000 for toward payments under the contract for the Design and Build of the Nairobi ITS Establishment and Junctions Improvement Project- Phase II,” the tender notice dated June 16, in the weekly paper MyGov states.
The project is expected to build on the gains made under the first phase of the smart transport programme, which introduced intelligent traffic signals and surveillance systems at selected intersections in Nairobi.
Under the new phase, KURA is seeking a contractor to design and undertake civil works for the improvement and upgrade of 60 junctions across the city.
The project scope includes installation of modern traffic management technologies to improve traffic flow and road safety.
Among the key components are 60 traffic signal systems, 60 CCTV cameras, 13 vehicle detector systems, two variable message signs and 60 vehicle enforcement systems, alongside associated street lighting infrastructure.
KURA said the successful bidder will also construct a one-kilometre bridge and extension of two existing bridges, provide training and skills transfer, and deploy experts to support operations and maintenance during the warranty period.
“The contractor shall provide and deploy experts for a period of four years to provide operational support and to assist the employer in achieving sustainable operation and maintenance of the works,” the notice reads.
The authority noted that the design-build contract will include a 30-month defects liability period after commissioning and testing of the completed works.
The project forms part of Nairobi’s broader efforts to leverage technology to tackle persistent traffic jams, reduce travel times and enhance road safety in one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities.
KURA has invited eligible firms from EDCF loan member countries to participate in the competitive bidding process.
Interested bidders will be required to provide a bid security of USD 1 million, with tender submissions closing on August 4, 2026 at 10am.
A mandatory pre-tender site visit has been scheduled for June 23, 2026, while a pre-bid conference will take place on July 2, 2026 at KURA headquarters in Nairobi.
The authority said bidding documents will be available upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Sh50,000.
“All interested bidders are required to continually check the Kenya Urban Roads Authority website for any tender addenda or clarifications that may arise before the submission date,” KURA said.
The smart transport initiative is expected to significantly improve traffic coordination at key intersections, support enforcement of traffic regulations and provide real-time information to motorists.
The government has identified intelligent transport systems as a critical component in addressing Nairobi’s chronic congestion, which costs the economy billions of shillings annually through lost productivity, fuel wastage and delays in movement of goods and people.
With the latest phase now moving to procurement, attention will turn to the selection of a contractor and the eventual rollout of infrastructure expected to reshape urban mobility in the capital.
The tender notice was issued by the Deputy Director, Supply Chain Management, on behalf of the Director General of KURA.
