Infrastructure

Work for Sh5bn Eldoret Bypass to Close by December

The project has been delayed by land compensation disputes.

Updated on

March 26, 2022

A section of the Eldoret Bypass. PHOTO | COURTESY

Construction of 32km Eldoret Bypass, also known as Eldoret Southern Bypass, is set to close before December, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has said.

The bypass, which will connect Cheplaskei and Maili Tisa through Kapseret and Simat, was launched in August 2017 but failed to take off due to land compensation disputes pitting the State and more than 1,000 displaced families.

The compensation issue was too emotive that the National Land Commission (NLC) admitted in July 2018 that it was facing difficulties in resolving boundary and land disputes between property owners and the government of Uasin Gishu.

The NLC later held discussions with the affected parties, and agreed on a way forward, thereby allowing the contractor – China Wu Yi Company Limited – to continue with work.

However, the project stalled again in January 2020 after a fresh row erupted. The affected landowners said they had not been paid three years after signing a deal with the government.

30% interest

The landlords were demanding a 30% interest on the delayed payments, failing which they would terminate the contracts they had signed with KenHA and NLC.

The government has since released up to Sh4.2 billion to affected landowners.

“Although we incurred some delays mainly due to lengthy processes involving compensation for land acquired for the road, significant progress has been made…with progress currently standing at 83%,” KeNHA director general Kung’u Ndung’u said in an interview.

The Eldoret Southern Bypass, which is funded by the African Development Bank, starts at Ngeria on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway and passes through Kapseret near Eldoret Airport before re-joining Uganda Road at Maili Tisa.

Diverting traffic

The project seeks to decongest Eldoret town by diverting traffic – including long-distance trucks – from the Uganda highway which cuts across the town centre.

Mr Ndung’u also disclosed that the agency is undertaking feasibility studies and detailed designs for the proposed Eldoret Eastern Bypass.

The road will start from the interchange of Eldoret Western Bypass near Ngeria – on Eldoret-Chepriret Road and proceed to cross Eldoret-Iten Road near Marura, and back to Eldoret-Turbo Road near Maili Tisa where the Western Bypass ends.