List of Top Construction Projects in Kenya – 2024

This annual inventory of mega construction projects in Kenya is produced by CK to assist investors to identify and pursue potentially lucrative business opportunities.

The platform mainly focuses on projects valued at Sh10 billion or more that are either underway or recently announced. Project data is gathered from public information sources.

While efforts have been made to obtain the most recent information, users of this resource should know that projects are constantly being re-evaluated by their owners.

Some of the largest planned or upcoming projects in Kenya in 2024 include:-

1.) Lapsset – Arguably Kenya’s most ambitious venture, the Sh2 trillion Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport Corridor project is hoped to boost economic activities and double the country’s GDP.

Its main components include Lamu Port, the Lamu-Ethiopia-South Sudan highway, Lamu-Juba-Addis Ababa railway, the oil refinery and a 2,240km pipeline linking oil fields in South Sudan to the refinery at Lamu Port.

It also includes the construction of three resort cities at Lamu, Isiolo and Lokichoggio, the construction of airports in the resort cities and the development of a 1,100MW power line and a 185km water supply line.

2.) Mega Dams – Since April 2013, various government agencies have signed or announced more than Sh700 billion worth of dam construction projects across the country.

Several mega dams are currently under construction for Sh143 billion.

These include the Sh37 billion Thwake Dam in Kitui/Makueni counties, the Sh28 billion Itare Dam in Nakuru County, and the Sh5 billion Siyoi Muruny in West Pokot County.

3.) Northlands City – The Kenyattas are undertaking a project that will culminate in an 11,000-acre estate comprising residential and commercial units hosting about 250,000 people.

Dubbed Northlands City, the development that is estimated to cost Sh500 billion will occupy an 11,576 parcel of land in Ruiru – about 15km from the Nairobi city centre.

4.) Standard Gauge Railway – Construction of the Mombasa-Malaba standard gauge railway was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on November 28, 2013.

Phase one of the project – from Mombasa to Nairobi was completed in 2017 for Sh327 billion. Phase 2A, from Nairobi to Naivasha, was concluded in 2019 at Sh150 billion.

However, the project has since been put on hold due to lack of finances.

5.) Tatu City – Construction of a 2,500-acre mixed-use development in Ruiru, got underway in 2014 after legal battles that had put the Sh220 billion project on hold for four years.

Tatu City, promoted as Kenya’s first privately managed city, was launched in October 2010 but stalled shortly after due to land ownership wrangles. The issues have since been resolved.

6.) Konza Technology City – The planned construction of a Sh1.5 trillion “Silicon Savannah” in Machakos County was identified as one of the key drivers of Vision 2030.

However, the project has not made significant progress since its groundbreaking in 2013 except for the construction of the headquarters of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority.

7.) Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway – Four years after Kenya signed a deal with US firm Bechel for the construction of a Sh300 billion expressway between Nairobi and Mombasa, the two parties are yet to agree on how to finance the project despite a series of high-level talks.

Kenya wants the 473km road to be built through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model while Bechel is opposed to the model which it says will cost Sh540 billion over the next 25 years.

8.) Kenol-Isiolo Road – Plans for the dual carriageway received a major boost in July 2020 following the start of the Sh16 billion Kenol-Marua segment of the road project.

The 219km highway, which will be built in two segments: Kenol-Marua (84km) and Marua-Isiolo (135km), is scheduled for completion by December 2023.

9.) Mau Mau Road – Construction of a 540km road that seeks to honour the role of Mau Mau freedom fighters in the liberation of Kenya from colonialists is underway, offering three central Kenya counties a new artery into Nairobi.

Christened Mau Mau Road, the highway starts at Gataka in Limuru, and then passes through Kamahindu and Kibichoi in Kiambu before negotiating its way through Kinyona in Kigumo and Ichichi in Murang’a.

10.) The Pinnacle Hilton – Inaugurated in May 2017, the project comprises a 5-star hotel and a 300-metres high office block that will overtake Leonardo in Sandton, South Africa, as Africa’s tallest building.

The 255-room Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill will be hosted on the 45-storey wing, while the 70-storey wing will comprise Grade A commercial offices and a luxury shopping mall.

The Pinnacle Hilton has been put on hold after running into legal issues.

11.) Turkana-Lamu Pipeline – British energy services firm Wood Group Plc has completed design work for a massive pipeline that will move crude oil from Lokichar fields in Turkana to the port of Lamu.

The company, which was in March 2018 appointed by Kenya to undertake the Front End Engineering Design for the 824km pipeline, has delivered two design options.

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The first option comprising a pipeline with onshore storage facilities will cost Sh120 billion – while one with floating storage will cost Sh110 billion.

12.) Mau Summit Road – Construction of a toll highway from Nairobi to Mau Summit is expected to begin following the signing of a deal between Kenya and Rift Valley Connect – a consortium made up of Vinci Highways SAS, Meridian Infrastructure Africa Fund, and Vinci Concessions SAS.

The Sh180 billion project will involve the expansion of the 180-kilometre road into a four-lane dual carriageway from Rironi in Limuru to Mau Summit in Nakuru County.

13.) Nairobi Railway City – After nearly a decade of waiting, groundbreaking has been held for the proposed Nairobi Railway City, which seeks to decongest the city centre.

The venture which was announced in 2010, involves the construction of a 425-acre urban development on the area between Haile Sellasie Avenue, Uhuru Highway and Bunyala Road – comprising transit stations, and residential and commercial buildings among other features.

14.) Mombasa Gate Bridge – The Kenya National Highways Authority has developed a detailed design for the Sh85 billion Mombasa Gate Bridge, with works expected to begin soon.

KeNHA is expected to embark on the process of acquiring land for the project and work on the relocation plan which is expected to go on until later in the year.

15.) Nairobi Mass Transport System – Kenya has been planning to put in place a Sh35 billion mass public transport system in a bid to bring order into the Nairobi transport sector.

The project, which is funded by the World Bank (Sh25.2 billion) and the government (Sh9.8 billion), was scheduled to begin in 2017 but that did not happen for some weird reasons.

16.) Mai-Mahiu Suswa Road – The government is set to redesign and reconstruct a 41km road from Maai Mahiu to Suswa in a bid to end recurrent disruption and rerouting of traffic during the rainy season.

The Mai-Mahiu Suswa Road, which serves the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, will be reconstructed with provision for dual carriageway in the future as traffic volumes increase.

17.) Kiambu-Mang’u-Thika Road – KeNHA is set to undertake a Sh10.78 billion project that will see sections of a road that connects Kiambu Road to Thika Road upgraded into a dual carriageway.

The project is split into six segments. The 12km stretch from Kiambu Road to Ngewa will be made a dual carriageway, while the 10km section between Ngewa and Kibichoi will be a single carriageway.

18.) Palm Exotica – The Sh23 billion project, which seeks to deliver a 61-floor luxury hotel in Watamu, Kilifi County, is in limbo after Nema declined to approve the venture, citing the project’s failure to comply with zoning plans.

19.) Tana River Nuclear Plant – The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) is seeking regulatory approval for the construction of a Sh540 billion nuclear power plant in Tana River.

The first nuclear power plant of 1,000 MW, is expected to be commissioned by 2027 and it is projected to grow to 4,000 MW by 2035.

20.) Nairobi Western Bypass – Construction is underway on the Nairobi Western Bypass, a Sh17 billion highway that seeks to ease traffic congestion in the city.

The 16.79km highway, which is being undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation, kicks off at Gitaru on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway and links the Southern Bypass in Kikuyu.

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