The United States government has delayed funding for the proposed Sh300 billion Nairobi-Mombasa expressway.
Speaking during an interview with a local FM station, Ambassador Kyle McCarter said the US is scrutinizing the project to ascertain whether Kenyan taxpayers would get value for their money.
The envoy said the US is also concerned with Kenya’s ballooning public debt.
“US zero tolerance for corruption has forced us back to the drawing board and we will only embark on the project once we are satisfied it guarantees value for money for Kenyans and will not sink the country deeper into debt,” said McCarter.
He further said the US wants to establish whether the cost of the state-of-the-art infrastructure project was inflated.
“We did not want to sign onto a project whose cost would turn out to be three to four times higher than the actual.”
“We want to ensure there is an honest return on investment for Kenyans before we break ground,” McCarter stated.
The multi-billion-shilling contract for the construction of the 485-kilometer dual carriageway was awarded to an American engineering company, Bechtel.
“Bechtel did not lose the deal, we are still working on the finance. Kenya has a challenge of debt and we are wary of burdening Kenyans,” the envoy said.
The project was declared viable following a feasibility study carried out by an audit firm, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2015.
The four-lane road will allow uninterrupted speeds of up to 120 km per hour, cutting travel time between Mombasa and Nairobi from 10 to four hours.
The road will run parallel to the current Nairobi-Mombasa highway and is expected to help promote trade and ease movement of people and goods in Kenya and neighboring countries.
China refused to give these…
China refused to give these wakora money to extend SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu. The USA has followed. Who does not know the big percentage of that money will be looted.
The ambassador who speaks…
The ambassador who speaks Swahili is an added advantage to the country! This guy knows Kenyans so well “”” VALUE FOR THE KENYAN PEOPLES MONEY”” I love this GUY
you are a coon….
you are a coon….
I SUGGEST YOU REMOVE THE …
I SUGGEST YOU REMOVE THE “PORK” FROM THAT INFLATED 300 BILLION DEBT BEFORE YOU COMMENCE THE PROJECT.
MLIKA MWIZI!
“We did not want to sign…
“We did not want to sign onto a project whose cost would turn out to be three to four times higher than the actual.”
My honest opinion. I think the US ambassador cares more about Kenya then the Kenyans care about Kenya. I have not seen a kenyan questioning the cost of the highway.
Cost is not an issue, they…
Cost is not an issue, they start with an estimate to plan the funding. Actual payment is based on actual work performed plus an agreed fee (CPFF). Highly likely that the US contractor is not getting EXIM bank guarantee.
Thank you. God bless America.
Thank you. God bless America.
I like every bit of what he…
I like every bit of what he said. Kudos Kyle! Someone is saying the truth for once!
They don’t have the money…
They don’t have the money…ain’t it obvious?
I also suggest that the US…
I also suggest that the US supervise this Highway project and CONTROL the expense $ for $ from start to finish. PLEASE DO NOT HAND MONEY TO THESE CORRUPT LEADERS OF OURS.
The refusal or delay of the…
The refusal or delay of the funding is a blessing to the Kenyans. “My people die for lack of knowledge”.
We need research and more research to have understanding. Read ” Confessions of an Economic Hitman” and also watch it on you tube.
It will be an eye opener for us all as we move forward!!
Hehehehe this hypocritical…
Hehehehe this hypocritical jungus need to stop building this nonsense highway juu we have a highway n sgr so hatutaki hii pesa yao ya hii highway n i hope they don’t do it juu all they r doing is to try to compete with our favourite chinese products???Waende wainvest hio pesa kwa usa ghettos to homelessness pple who wamejaa philly,newyork,losangeles carlifornia n camden newjersey or help to revive ford/chrysler n other closed cars manufacturing for their pple to find jobs.I visited chicago last year n i was ashamed with the car industry’s which went bankrupt,drugs,prostitution,hunger,empty ghost houses everywhere especially the blacks surburbs???I will download them photos later.
And our “patriotic”…
And our “patriotic” government is busy harassing Kenyans with a Huduma Number registration, while on the hand stealing from citizens who are toiling to make ends meet.
Most of the money will be…
Most of the money will be stolen by these conmen in politics. The government is not serious about attacking corruption because they are all on it. Poor wananchi.