Infrastructure

Japanese Ngong Road Builder Earns Praise from Kenyans

World Kaihatsu Kogyo is finalising work on phase one of the Ngong Road dualling project.

Updated on

February 9, 2018

Ngong Road expansion project. — Ongoing works on Ngong Road in Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE

The Japanese contractor undertaking the dualling of Ngong Road has been praised by Nairobi residents, who are particularly wowed by the quality of work and meticulous execution of the project.

World Kaihatsu Kogyo (WKK), which is currently finalising work on phase one of the Ngong Road dualling project, has been praised for how it has put together the road that seeks to decongest the city.

“Kudos, Japanese! Despite taking long, you have built a high-quality road that meets international standards,” Claire Kariuki commented on our Facebook page last week.

The Sh1.4 billion project runs from the Kenya National Library to Prestige Plaza and has been underway since August 2016, with its completion set for April.

“Japanese companies are the least corrupt (never heard of them in corruption issues). They are great when it comes to technology transfer,” Maslah Adan, a Nairobi resident, told CK.

In what appears to be a reward for great workmanship, the company was on January 25 awarded a Sh2.3 billion tender to undertake phase two of the project – running from Prestige Plaza to Dagoretti Corner.

The project is expected to commence by April, with a construction timeline of two years. The scope of work will involve the construction of four vehicle lanes and a service lane on each side of the road comprising cycling paths and pedestrian walkways.

Both phase one and two of the project have been financed through a grant from the government of Japan.

Japanese developments are regarded in some quarters as reliable and of superior quality compared to those undertaken by Chinese contractors, who ironically are more prevalent in Kenya.

However, Japanese projects have their critics too – especially from time-conscious individuals who fret over the pace at which decisions are made.

“There’s a joke here [in Nairobi] that they do a feasibility study of a feasibility study of a feasibility study before investing while the Chinese are quick on their feet,” a senior Kenyan official once told the Financial Times of London.