Kenya Urban Roads Authority floats tender for Chinese nationals only
The Ministry of Roads and Transport headed by Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen floated a Kenya Urban Roads Authority tender targeting Chinese nationals only.
The tender, one that seeks to establish an intelligent transport system (ITS) in Nairobi and improvement of junctions, came on the heels of the Republic of Kenya receiving “an intent for financing from the China EXIM Bank of the People’s Republic of China and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this loan to payments under the contract for design and build for the Nairobi ITS establishment and junction improvement project.”
“The bidder and all other parties constituting the bidder shall have the nationality of the Republic of China. It is envisaged that the contract period will be for a duration of 72 months: 36 months for design and 36 months for operation and maintenance,” read the Tender notice No KURA/DEV/HQ/326/2023-2024.
KURA required all its bidders to submit one application either in their own name or as a joint venture or consortium in the expression of interest
“Bids will be opened immediately thereafter in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend. Electronic bidding will not be permitted and KURA will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by bidders in connection with the preparation or delivery of bids,” added the tender notice.
The expression of interest deadline was set at February 14, 2024, by 11 am Nairobi time.
China is the leading foreign infrastructure developer in Kenya. According to the Office of the President of Kenya, China’s partnership with Kenya is aimed at driving economic growth for both nations in critical sectors.
“China and Kenya have a shared dream of eradicating poverty through socioeconomic transformation from the bottom and we have identified areas that we can support to realize this vision. Your bottom-up economic approach is aligned with President Xi Jinping’s belief and we will support your programmes,” said Mr Li Xi, a senior member of China’s Communist Party Political Bureau during an October 2023 meeting with President William Ruto..
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