Kenya Power to light by-passes for Sh5bn

Corporate News

Kenya Power managing director Ben Chumo: "The government approached us to prepare a quote for this project". PHOTO | FILE 

By MUGAMBI MUTEGI

In Summary

• The project includes lighting up the nine-kilometre road connecting Westlands and Ngong Road through Kileleshwa.
• Kenya Power says that work on the roads will commence in January and could be completed by April if the Treasury approves the proposal.
• The firm is targeting a nearly five-fold jump in income from Nairobi street lights to Sh2.4 billion per annum beginning June next year.

Kenya Power has quoted a Sh5 billion bill for the government’s intended installation of street lights along the southern and northern bypass roads that stretch over 55 kilometres.

The project, under the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura), includes lighting up the nine-kilometre road connecting Westlands and Ngong Road through Kileleshwa.

Kenya Power says that work on the roads will commence in early January and could be completed by April if the Treasury approves the proposal.

“The government approached us to prepare a quote for this project,” said Kenya Power managing director Ben Chumo in an interview.

The project is separate from an already-signed Sh10 billion contract for Kenya Power to install street lights on Nairobi’s major commercial and residential areas by April next year.

The northern bypass is a 25-kilometre road linking Thika Road to Waiyaki Way and it is part of the Nairobi-Nakuru highway which is being built at a cost of Sh8.5 billion.

Crosses National Park

The road runs through Kahawa West, Githurai, and upmarket Thome, Windsor, Runda and Kitisuru estates, which could benefit from some much needed street lighting.

The Southern bypass is a 30-kilometre dual carriageway which begins at Ole Sereni Hotel on Mombasa Road.

The Sh17 billion road crosses National Park westward then goes through Lang’ata Road, Ngong Road, Dagoretti Road, Thogoto Road and crosses the railway line heading towards Kikuyu town.

“We plan to erect concrete street poles along these two bypass roads and the lamps will be connected through overhead cabling.

‘‘We will take these measures to protect the investment from vandals,” said Mr Chumo. The Westlands to Ngong Road connection is part of the Nairobi Western Ring Roads funded by the government of Japan at a cost of Sh2.5 billion to decongest the city.

The road connects the Westlands Roundabout, Kileleshwa, Yaya Centre and Ngong Road.

Kenya Power said street lighting infrastructure (masts) on the entire stretch of the road exist and that its technicians will now only install underground cablings as well as lamps.

The project, which is being financed by the government and City Hall, is aimed at turning Nairobi into a 24-hour economy.