Developments News Magazine

Construction of the Kenya-Ethiopia electricity highway is well underway with the facility expected to go live in April next year, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company’s managing director has said. Fernandez Barraza said work is complete on the Ethiopian section – which is shorter – while Kenya’s segment is over 90 per cent ready and on course for completion early next year. The 1,045-km Kenya-Ethiopia power line (433 km in Ethiopia and 612 km in Kenya) will enable Kenya to import cheaper electricity from hydroelectric projects in Ethiopia while setting stage for inter-regional trade in energy. The 500 KV electricity highway, which runs from Wolayita Sodo in Ethiopia to Suswa in Kenya, will have power transportation capacity of 2,000MW in either direction. It will be the region’s first 500kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line. “Currently, the 400kV Loiyangalani-Suswa 435km line built last year and connecting Turkana wind farm to the national grid holds the top spot in the re

The much awaited dueling of the Kenol-Isiolo dual road is scheduled to begin next month, the government has announced. Speaking in Mukurweini, Nyeri, a week ago, Deputy President William Ruto said works for 80-km highway will get underway in the next 30 days, bringing into reality a project that seeks to further ease transportation and trade in the Northern Corridor. The project, which is estimated to cost Sh50 billion, is financed by the African Development Bank. It is, however, not clear whether or not the government has finalized funding and procurement issues of the project based on the timelines that were given earlier by Transport and Infrastructure CS James Macharia. Mr Macharia had in January said the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) was designing of the Nyeri-Isiolo stretch, having completed the Kenol-Nyeri segment in readiness for the commencement of the bidding process to determine the budget. “The actual cost will be determined once we do bidding. That will be

The transmission line nearing completion to link Kenya to its northern neighbour Ethiopia for regional electricity trade comes with many firsts. For starters, the 1,045km line (433 km in Ethiopia and 612 km in Kenya) is the longest in East and Central Africa. Construction is complete on the Ethiopia’s side, being shorter, while Kenya’s side is over 90 per cent complete and is expected to go live early next year. The line, interconnecting at the Moyale common border, has the capacity to carry 2,000 megawatts of electricity in either direction, the capacity being higher than Kenya’s current maximum consumption (peak demand) of about 1,900 MW. On Kenya’s side, it’s being built by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco). With the line, comes yet another first. It’s set to be the region’s first 500kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line. Currently, the 400kV Loiyangalani-Suswa 435km line built last year and connecting Turkana wind farm to the national grid holds the top

A group of foreign investors led by Italian billionaire Franco Rosco are pushing forward plans to set up a 61-floor luxury hotel-cum-residential project in Watamu, Kilifi County, in a development that will gift Kenya its tallest building. Trading as Palm Exotica, the investors are now seeking the nod of the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) to commence construction of the facility on a 2.4-acre parcel of land at Dabaso, Turtle Bay Road in Kilifi. According to regulatory filings seen by CK, the investors say the property – to be known as Palm Exotica – will be a mix-use development comprising a 270-bedroom five-star hotel, a high-end shopping mall, executive offices and apartments, a casino, and restaurants. The luxury hotel will be operated by a yet-to-be disclosed global hospitality chain with several hotel floors reserved for presidential suites. “This mixed-use development is for the discerning traveller who appreciates life’s finer things. Sky rooftop restauran