Kenya and the Republic of Congo are set to build an international highway connecting Mombasa to Point Noire via Brazzaville. The project aims to boost trade between the two countries, making the transit of goods easier and enhancing the economy of both nations. The Ministry of Transport revealed that Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and his Congolese counterpart, Jean Jacques Bouya, discussed the mega project’s details during their meeting. While the costs and timelines for the project were not disclosed, neighbouring countries will be involved since the road will cross their borders before crossing over to the Republic of Congo.
Aside from the international highway, the two ministers also discussed other key infrastructural projects such as the resumption and enhancement of aviation links between Kenya and Congo. The project is expected to create job opportunities on the corridor and intensify cooperation in air services between the respective national carriers of the two countries.
If the project is successful, it will become among the few international highways in Kenya, such as those under the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project. Former President Mwai Kibaki launched this project, which incorporated the inter-regional highways from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba (South Sudan), and Isiolo to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).
The international highway project is a promising development that could significantly boost trade and enhance cooperation between the two countries. It also presents an opportunity for neighbouring countries to collaborate on this project and establish better connectivity within the region.
