Kenya – Africa’s infrastructure powerhouse

Kenya waliwekwa in their place na wa S.A haha, though I'm not a fan of South Africa it's a cursed nation which kills their fellow brothers while they kiss the Asses of the devils which make em poor....

t-time said:

i have been around monitoring bro , just been monitoring u guys shitting on tanzanians making yourself better n i am here to make myself and country better lol . on a serious note though you guys have a long way to be at our level , we have the infrastructure that you guys are dreaming about

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We as kenyans don't deny it cause South Africa is mineral endowed with gold and diamonds Kenya is non mineral and we still the most developed country in eastern africa. Second, South Africa was made by boers and british while you black natives were shitholes,,, you had control over nothing dude and what you guys fancy in South Africa should be accredited to the Afrikaans and the Brits,,, period

Ule boy mzii Wa nairobi said:

We as kenyans don't deny it cause South Africa is mineral endowed with gold and diamonds Kenya is non mineral and we still the most developed country in eastern africa. Second, South Africa was made by boers and british while you black natives were shitholes,,, you had control over nothing dude and what you guys fancy in South Africa should be accredited to the Afrikaans and the Brits,,, period

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Kenya was made by British too! BTW u have several minerals from soda ash to Titanium to gold. So better shut up.

Geza Ulole said:

Kenya was made by British too! BTW u have several minerals from soda ash to Titanium to gold. So better shut up.

Click to expand...

Which gold? The little deposits in kakamega and migori??? Soda ash value is too low....titanium is unviable...Kenya doesn't depend on minerals

COLLOH-MZII RELOADED said:

Which gold? The little deposits in kakamega and migori??? Soda ash value is too low....titanium is unviable...Kenya doesn't depend on minerals

Click to expand...

Uache upumbavu kutafuta excuses, that land has minerals

The billions buried under Kenyan soil
By Moses Michira | Tuesday, May 2nd 2017 at 08:42


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In mid-February three years ago, MV African Eagle pulled away from the port of Mombasa in a maiden journey that may have lifted the lid off Kenya's mineral and oil wealth worth over Sh15 trillion.

The cargo on that ship was titanium ore, worth Sh400 million destined China in the first of hundreds of similar of trips to come. Since 2013, titanium valued at over Sh35.5 billion has been produced and exported as the most important mineral for Kenya.

Now, Kenya is firmly on the path to earn the trillions from its 77 different minerals, petroleum and gas reserves buried under the surface to offer reprieve for citizens who are already heavily taxed.





A quick math puts Kenya's mineral wealth at Sh333,333 for everyone in the population of 45 million, in wealth that the political class would die to manage.

Mining Cabinet Secretary Dan Kazungu told the Standard the exact value of the mineral deposits was significant but could only be determined after a pending aerial geological mapping.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich told Parliament when he unveiled the national budget last week that the mining sector could "immensely contribute to the development of industries, wealth and job creation".

Official records released last week in the Economic Survey indicated gemstones as steadily rising on the list of important minerals, with production in 2016 reported at Sh936 million – nearly six-fold growth since 2012.

President Uhuru Kenyatta's government has taken note of the mineral potential and has taken baby steps in ensuring the State earns the maximum gain from the resources.

"We will endeavor to keep a close watch on exploitation of mineral resources on behalf of Kenyans, in the hope that if they are well protected, then our people can benefit from them," Kenyatta told members of the Chamber of Mines in a past event at State House Nairobi.

"We are aware some miners have had licenses for over 20 years with minimum returns."





Among the radical steps already in effect is levying of royalties on all minerals mined from country.

The Mines and Geological Department along Nairobi's Machakos Road is a hive of activity - dozens of royalty payment cheques are received every day, an official there told the Standard.

Reserves for Titanium and Niobium, both found in the Coast region, are projected to be worth Sh9 trillion, and Sh3.8 trillion for the estimated of 750 million barrels, according to Tullow Oil's latest projections.

Kenya's think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs has projected that the State will earn no less than Sh12 trillion directly the mineral reserves, double the country's gross domestic product, GDP.

The figures however do not capture the valuation of the mineral deposits, which is obviously much higher considering the mining expenses and the contractors' margins.

Rare earth minerals, coal and oil are carry Kenya's hopes of resource wealth, according to the report titled 'Resource Bliss, Dilemma or Curse' published by the IEA earlier this month.

"This is a sector with great potential to enhance an economy," Dr Miriam Omolo, the lead researcher said, following conclusion of the 8-month long analysis of the country's extractive sector.





The findings for the first time provide a collective and independent valuation of Kenya's mineral wealth. While the minerals are largely untapped, exploiting them would have major benefits for the economy and the citizens.

Commercial exploitation of the mineral wealth is anticipated to ease the pain on the ordinary citizens, through revenues from royalties and taxation of profits made by the mining firms.

IEA projects that the State will earn Sh300 billion ($3 billion) from the mining sector, exclusive of oil and gas, a year which is almost of fifth of national budget.

Another research by the Strathmore University's Extractive Industries Centre puts the expected contribution of the mining sector at 10 – 15 per cent of the GDP, including the new jobs and value addition down the supply chain.

Dr Luis Franceschi, Dean of the Strathmore Law School, says the 'mineral wealth will play a catalytic role in the development of the country'.

The government is also eying at least 60 per cent of oil reserves, according to Energy Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge.

Kenya first discovered oil in 2012, in the Lokichar Basin but subsequent exploration activities have revealed even more resources.

Tullow, the UK firm leading in the exploration of six blocks, has announced the discovery of more than 600 million barrels – above the threshold for commercial viability.

More recent updates from the firm and its partner Africa Oil show that Turkana basin alone has over 1.3 billion barrels of oil resource.

Several other prospecting firms have announced the major finds in different blocks, including offshore. Mwendia Nyagah, the chief executive of Oil and Gas Services, is optimistic that further oil discoveries would be made.

"Yes we are likely to get more blocks with oil and gas resources.

Once they are then evaluated and confirmed commercial, we will then call them reserves.

Evaluation has been going on to establish how much is there and how much of it can be profitably extracted," Mr Nyaga, a former chief executive of National Oil told the Standard.

In total, Kenya has 77 minerals according to the Department of Mines, among them rubies, emerald and tsavorite - though small quantities.

These three are on the list of the World's 10 priciest substances. As a price indication, Tiffany - the World's top end jewelry store, is offering a beaded tsavorite necklace for Sh10 million ($115,000), foreign media reported.

The mineral derives its name from Tsavo area that straddles the Kenya – Tanzania border. In any case, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has built an empire out of dealing in ruby, garnets and zoisite.

A map detailing the mineral occurrence across the country provided by the Mines Department shows that the section of Rift Valley around Samburu and Isiolo counties as among the most endowed.

Here, there are tens of minerals which geologists attribute to the volcanic activity associated with the formation of the Rift Valley.

Incidentally, it is the region that ranks poorest on distribution of wealth and is often the worst hit by ethnic clashes. Investigations have shown a scramble for pasture and water to have sparked off the often deadly encounters among the Turkana, Pokot and Samburu communities.

Kenya's geological map indicates the occurrence of gold in several locations around the country around the Lake Victoria basin.

In 2012, gold was Kenya's most important mineral export earning Sh13.9 billion, half of the total mineral wealth produced in that year, and ahead of the traditional leader Soda Ash.

Official records placed the production in that year at 3,600 kg.

New gold finds by Acacia Mining of United Kingdom in Kakamega firmly suggests gold could be the most important mineral export in the near future. The firm announced in February of the discoveries an estimated resource of 1.31 million ounces of gold at its mines in the Liranda Corridor in Kakamega, whose grade, Acacia added, could be the highest in Africa.

Mr Kazungu estimates the discovery could be valued at Sh171 billion.

UK-listed company Goldplat has mined the precious metal at its Kilimapesa mines in Narok County for five years, accelerating the operations last year with the installation of a newer and bigger plant.

Already, the investment has seen a major lift in gold production.

"Operating profitability continued at the recovery operations together with continued reduction in losses made at Kilimapesa. The sourcing of by-product material for processing at the recovery operations remains the number one strategic focus area and good progress is being made in this area at all operations," company executive Gerard Kisbey-Green said last Thursday.

He added that the firm was "very pleased" with the mining operations. In Migori however, artisanal miners have for decades sought the metal as a full time occupation.

Nearby in Kisii County, a vibrant economy that employs hundreds directly and many more down the value chain is supported by soapstone- a rare mineral used in carvings.

There has not been an independent valuation of the greyish or bluish stone but the price of the carvings, which are sold the World over, could offer a preview into its worth.

But it is much further south of Kenya, where two main minerals are found, coal in Kitui and the rare earth reserves in Kwale. Canadian firm Cortec announced it had discovered about Sh9 trillion-worth ($100 billion) of rare earth minerals and niobium, at its site in Mrima Hill, Kwale County.

"This is by far the largest mineral deposit in Kenya and the find at Mrima Hill will make Kenya one of the largest rare earth producers in the world," said David Anderson, managing director of Cortec Kenya Mining told a press briefing.

Rare earth minerals are used in the manufacture of electronic components such as miniature batteries and semi-conductors, while niobium is used to strengthen steel and jet engines.

Cortec expects to export 330,000tn of ilmenite, 79,000tn of higher grade rutile and another 30,000 of zircon over the first seven years, Anderson said.

IEA projects that the State will earn about Sh5.5 trillion from the estimated 40 million tonnes of rare earth minerals, and a further Sh300 million from mineral sands.

The earnings will be in the form of royalties and taxes paid by the companies involved in the mining and export.

Even with the largely untapped mineral deposits, Kwale is ranked among the poorest counties, where only three in 10 people have access to toilet facilities.

A big majority defecates in the bushes, as an income indicator. In Block C, one of the four blocks where Kenya's coal deposits have been discovered, a Chines firm has announced the resources are 400 million metric tonnes.

International markets peg the price of coal at Sh4500 per tonne, ($53), valuing Kenya's proven coal reserves at about Sh2 trillion.

Prospects of finding commercially viable deposits of the heavy fuel in Kitui's Mui Basin are high.

The recent coal finds contradict earlier surveys that had ruled out 'any possibility' of finding traces of the resource, with one geologist even attributing available traces to dumps abandoned by military forces during wartime.

Colonial era geologist C G Bu Bois also wrote that any coal found in Kenya might have fallen off wagons moving the cargo from the sea port inland.

But coal is the mineral that powered most of the World's industrialization owing to its low price, and could be the silver bullet for the Kenyan case.

Already, Fenxi Mining is setting up a Sh45 billion-worth plant to harvest the resource that is the World's cheapest source of power.

Kenya's cost of power is projected to fall significantly with the completion of coal power plant in Lamu, expected to produce 960 MW – more than half of the country's needs.


The billions buried under Kenyan soil

Geza Ulole said:

Uache upumbavu kutafuta excuses, that land has minerals

The billions buried under Kenyan soil
By Moses Michira | Tuesday, May 2nd 2017 at 08:42


Share this story:

In mid-February three years ago, MV African Eagle pulled away from the port of Mombasa in a maiden journey that may have lifted the lid off Kenya's mineral and oil wealth worth over Sh15 trillion.

The cargo on that ship was titanium ore, worth Sh400 million destined China in the first of hundreds of similar of trips to come. Since 2013, titanium valued at over Sh35.5 billion has been produced and exported as the most important mineral for Kenya.

Now, Kenya is firmly on the path to earn the trillions from its 77 different minerals, petroleum and gas reserves buried under the surface to offer reprieve for citizens who are already heavily taxed.





A quick math puts Kenya's mineral wealth at Sh333,333 for everyone in the population of 45 million, in wealth that the political class would die to manage.

Mining Cabinet Secretary Dan Kazungu told the Standard the exact value of the mineral deposits was significant but could only be determined after a pending aerial geological mapping.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich told Parliament when he unveiled the national budget last week that the mining sector could "immensely contribute to the development of industries, wealth and job creation".

Official records released last week in the Economic Survey indicated gemstones as steadily rising on the list of important minerals, with production in 2016 reported at Sh936 million – nearly six-fold growth since 2012.

President Uhuru Kenyatta's government has taken note of the mineral potential and has taken baby steps in ensuring the State earns the maximum gain from the resources.

"We will endeavor to keep a close watch on exploitation of mineral resources on behalf of Kenyans, in the hope that if they are well protected, then our people can benefit from them," Kenyatta told members of the Chamber of Mines in a past event at State House Nairobi.

"We are aware some miners have had licenses for over 20 years with minimum returns."





Among the radical steps already in effect is levying of royalties on all minerals mined from country.

The Mines and Geological Department along Nairobi's Machakos Road is a hive of activity - dozens of royalty payment cheques are received every day, an official there told the Standard.

Reserves for Titanium and Niobium, both found in the Coast region, are projected to be worth Sh9 trillion, and Sh3.8 trillion for the estimated of 750 million barrels, according to Tullow Oil's latest projections.

Kenya's think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs has projected that the State will earn no less than Sh12 trillion directly the mineral reserves, double the country's gross domestic product, GDP.

The figures however do not capture the valuation of the mineral deposits, which is obviously much higher considering the mining expenses and the contractors' margins.

Rare earth minerals, coal and oil are carry Kenya's hopes of resource wealth, according to the report titled 'Resource Bliss, Dilemma or Curse' published by the IEA earlier this month.

"This is a sector with great potential to enhance an economy," Dr Miriam Omolo, the lead researcher said, following conclusion of the 8-month long analysis of the country's extractive sector.





The findings for the first time provide a collective and independent valuation of Kenya's mineral wealth. While the minerals are largely untapped, exploiting them would have major benefits for the economy and the citizens.

Commercial exploitation of the mineral wealth is anticipated to ease the pain on the ordinary citizens, through revenues from royalties and taxation of profits made by the mining firms.

IEA projects that the State will earn Sh300 billion ($3 billion) from the mining sector, exclusive of oil and gas, a year which is almost of fifth of national budget.

Another research by the Strathmore University's Extractive Industries Centre puts the expected contribution of the mining sector at 10 – 15 per cent of the GDP, including the new jobs and value addition down the supply chain.

Dr Luis Franceschi, Dean of the Strathmore Law School, says the 'mineral wealth will play a catalytic role in the development of the country'.

The government is also eying at least 60 per cent of oil reserves, according to Energy Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge.

Kenya first discovered oil in 2012, in the Lokichar Basin but subsequent exploration activities have revealed even more resources.

Tullow, the UK firm leading in the exploration of six blocks, has announced the discovery of more than 600 million barrels – above the threshold for commercial viability.

More recent updates from the firm and its partner Africa Oil show that Turkana basin alone has over 1.3 billion barrels of oil resource.

Several other prospecting firms have announced the major finds in different blocks, including offshore. Mwendia Nyagah, the chief executive of Oil and Gas Services, is optimistic that further oil discoveries would be made.

"Yes we are likely to get more blocks with oil and gas resources.

Once they are then evaluated and confirmed commercial, we will then call them reserves.

Evaluation has been going on to establish how much is there and how much of it can be profitably extracted," Mr Nyaga, a former chief executive of National Oil told the Standard.

In total, Kenya has 77 minerals according to the Department of Mines, among them rubies, emerald and tsavorite - though small quantities.

These three are on the list of the World's 10 priciest substances. As a price indication, Tiffany - the World's top end jewelry store, is offering a beaded tsavorite necklace for Sh10 million ($115,000), foreign media reported.

The mineral derives its name from Tsavo area that straddles the Kenya – Tanzania border. In any case, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has built an empire out of dealing in ruby, garnets and zoisite.

A map detailing the mineral occurrence across the country provided by the Mines Department shows that the section of Rift Valley around Samburu and Isiolo counties as among the most endowed.

Here, there are tens of minerals which geologists attribute to the volcanic activity associated with the formation of the Rift Valley.

Incidentally, it is the region that ranks poorest on distribution of wealth and is often the worst hit by ethnic clashes. Investigations have shown a scramble for pasture and water to have sparked off the often deadly encounters among the Turkana, Pokot and Samburu communities.

Kenya's geological map indicates the occurrence of gold in several locations around the country around the Lake Victoria basin.

In 2012, gold was Kenya's most important mineral export earning Sh13.9 billion, half of the total mineral wealth produced in that year, and ahead of the traditional leader Soda Ash.

Official records placed the production in that year at 3,600 kg.

New gold finds by Acacia Mining of United Kingdom in Kakamega firmly suggests gold could be the most important mineral export in the near future. The firm announced in February of the discoveries an estimated resource of 1.31 million ounces of gold at its mines in the Liranda Corridor in Kakamega, whose grade, Acacia added, could be the highest in Africa.

Mr Kazungu estimates the discovery could be valued at Sh171 billion.

UK-listed company Goldplat has mined the precious metal at its Kilimapesa mines in Narok County for five years, accelerating the operations last year with the installation of a newer and bigger plant.

Already, the investment has seen a major lift in gold production.

"Operating profitability continued at the recovery operations together with continued reduction in losses made at Kilimapesa. The sourcing of by-product material for processing at the recovery operations remains the number one strategic focus area and good progress is being made in this area at all operations," company executive Gerard Kisbey-Green said last Thursday.

He added that the firm was "very pleased" with the mining operations. In Migori however, artisanal miners have for decades sought the metal as a full time occupation.

Nearby in Kisii County, a vibrant economy that employs hundreds directly and many more down the value chain is supported by soapstone- a rare mineral used in carvings.

There has not been an independent valuation of the greyish or bluish stone but the price of the carvings, which are sold the World over, could offer a preview into its worth.

But it is much further south of Kenya, where two main minerals are found, coal in Kitui and the rare earth reserves in Kwale. Canadian firm Cortec announced it had discovered about Sh9 trillion-worth ($100 billion) of rare earth minerals and niobium, at its site in Mrima Hill, Kwale County.

"This is by far the largest mineral deposit in Kenya and the find at Mrima Hill will make Kenya one of the largest rare earth producers in the world," said David Anderson, managing director of Cortec Kenya Mining told a press briefing.

Rare earth minerals are used in the manufacture of electronic components such as miniature batteries and semi-conductors, while niobium is used to strengthen steel and jet engines.

Cortec expects to export 330,000tn of ilmenite, 79,000tn of higher grade rutile and another 30,000 of zircon over the first seven years, Anderson said.

IEA projects that the State will earn about Sh5.5 trillion from the estimated 40 million tonnes of rare earth minerals, and a further Sh300 million from mineral sands.

The earnings will be in the form of royalties and taxes paid by the companies involved in the mining and export.

Even with the largely untapped mineral deposits, Kwale is ranked among the poorest counties, where only three in 10 people have access to toilet facilities.

A big majority defecates in the bushes, as an income indicator. In Block C, one of the four blocks where Kenya's coal deposits have been discovered, a Chines firm has announced the resources are 400 million metric tonnes.

International markets peg the price of coal at Sh4500 per tonne, ($53), valuing Kenya's proven coal reserves at about Sh2 trillion.

Prospects of finding commercially viable deposits of the heavy fuel in Kitui's Mui Basin are high.

The recent coal finds contradict earlier surveys that had ruled out 'any possibility' of finding traces of the resource, with one geologist even attributing available traces to dumps abandoned by military forces during wartime.

Colonial era geologist C G Bu Bois also wrote that any coal found in Kenya might have fallen off wagons moving the cargo from the sea port inland.

But coal is the mineral that powered most of the World's industrialization owing to its low price, and could be the silver bullet for the Kenyan case.

Already, Fenxi Mining is setting up a Sh45 billion-worth plant to harvest the resource that is the World's cheapest source of power.

Kenya's cost of power is projected to fall significantly with the completion of coal power plant in Lamu, expected to produce 960 MW – more than half of the country's needs.


The billions buried under Kenyan soil

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Estimates and day dreaming.... Maybe Kenya minerals can help in future but not now but tz is mineral richer than Kenya

COLLOH-MZII RELOADED said:

Estimates and day dreaming.... Maybe Kenya minerals can help in future but not now but tz is mineral richer than Kenya

Click to expand...

That is for Uhuruto to explain not me. As far as I know mining is taking place in Kenya as we speak. A reason Magufuli's efforts to make mineral contribution a 10% to Tanzania's GDP should no be mocked n laughed at!

Geza Ulole said:

That is for Uhuruto to explain not me. As far as I know mining is taking place in Kenya as we speak. A reason Magufuli's efforts to make mineral contribution a 10% to Tanzania's GDP should no be mocked n laughed at!

Click to expand...

We really don't need minerals to develop as we have proved for the past Century. However you really need minerals to lift yourselves out of poverty although it has proved futile all through...you guys need an extraordinary miracle to make it out of poverty.

Save the brains of our children
Apr. 03, 2018, 12:15 am
By ALEX AWITI


A file photo of First Lady Margaret Kenyatta playing with babies at the Imani Childrens Home, Kayole. /PSCU

The Bible in Psalms 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” And in the words of Nelson Mandela, “Children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation.” But the state of children globally is dire.

According to the World Bank and Unicef, children are more than twice as likely as adults to live in extreme poverty. Sub-Saharan Africa has both the highest rates of children living in extreme poverty as well as the world’s extremely poor children.

Care, a major humanitarian agency, estimates that one billion children in the world lack the basic necessities of life such as food, healthcare, clean water and shelter.

Globally undernutrition is responsible for about 3.5 million deaths in children under the age of five. It accounts for 35 per cent of the disease burden for children under the age of five. Studies have shown that chronically malnourished children face lifelong reduced cognitive capacity, low retention and completion in school and reduced productivity and lifetime earnings.

The just-released Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey reveals that about 34 per cent of households with children were poor. Moreover, the survey also reveals that about 42 per cent of Kenya’s children below 17 years of age are poor. Similarly, an analysis of food poverty reveals that about 36 per cent of children below 17 were food poor.

Another report, Child Poverty in Kenya, reveals that more than half of children under the age of five lack access to sanitation and proper housing. Another 43 per cent of children under the age of five don’t have access to clean water and 33 per cent are deprived of nutrition.

A report by Action Against Hunger in 2017 revealed that malnutrition had reached alarming rates in Turkana, West Pokot, Mandera and Samburu. Overall poverty in these counties ranged between 57 and 79 per cent. Despite government-funded cash transfers, the majority of households in these counties are not able to meet daily food requirements.

The tragedy is that children living in poor households and staggered by hunger and chronic malnutrition are least likely to take advantage of or benefit from public investments in education owing to cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment is associated with poor school performance, which in turn is linked low individual earnings and intergenerational poverty.

No amount of expansion and improved education access, from early childhood to technical and vocational education, can guarantee quality of education and individual productivity.

Our efforts to save the brains of our children and harness their potential must begin with the unborn, the newborn and infants, ensuring that we secure their first 1,000 days.

We must act now. Our children are our future. It is a real shame that in the age of vast technological and scientific advancement millions of children should suffer from lack of healthcare, inadequate nutrition, poor quality education, and remain vulnerable to poverty, and a squalid environment.

Save the brains of our children

t-time said:

because alexandra is so small the only way to build is up
View attachment 535876
View attachment 535878
and this is alexandra also lol
View attachment 535880

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Can someone please notice the reality of some images depicting Alexandria...this is a computer generated images or drawings.

2018 na bado tuko in high gear.. mind you this excludes loans ..

Regional economies have allocated a third of their individual budgets in the new financial year to infrastructure projects, aiming to boost economic activity and spur growth.
Of the $15.8 billion going to development projects, Kenya allocated $6.25 billion (39.5 per cent), followed by Tanzania at $5.3 billion, then Uganda at $3.05 billion and Rwanda at $1.28 billion.
Kenya reduced its allocation from $7.4 billion in the 2017/18 fiscal year. Tanzania’s allocation increased from $5.27 billion in the year ending June 30. Uganda had set aside $1.32 billion, while Rwanda had earmarked $924 million for development expenditure last year.
The projects range from airport upgrades to aircraft purchases, modernisation of road and railway networks, and energy generation.
Tanzania says it will prioritise the construction of its Central Railway Line under the standard gauge railway project, for which it has budgeted $3.14 billion, with about half of it paid to the contractor.
Kenya has allocated $747 million in the new financial year for the construction of Phase 2A of its SGR, from Nairobi to Naivasha in the Central Rift.
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Big Four Agenda at core of Kenya spending
Industry, job creation on Rwanda priority list
Uganda is juggling between upgrading its metre gauge railway and initial work on its SGR, which is currently at the land compensation stage. Uganda Railways Corporation took over the operation of the metre gauge railway, after the termination of the Rift Valley Railways concession. Railway services on the Eastern Route resumed in February, and they reinstated the passenger rail service in the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
Ugandan Finance Minister Matia Kasaija reiterated the country’s commitment to developing the SGR.
“Eight per cent of the right of way for the SGR has been acquired, with 228 project affected persons in Tororo having been paid. In the new financial year, additional land on the eastern route will be procured. In addition, 42 railway wagons will be rehabilitated, bad spots along the Port Bell–Kampala and the Kampala-Malaba line will be repaired. Marking of the railway reserve boundaries will also be undertaken,” he said.
Airlines
Dar, Kampala and Kigali will also be working towards revamping their respective national carriers, Air Tanzania, Uganda Airlines and RwandAir respectively.
Tanzania has already spent $224 million on its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner expected to arrive in the country next month.
“Three aircraft, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with a capacity of 262 passengers and two Bombardier CS 300 aircraft with a capacity of 132 passengers each will be delivered later this year,” said Finance Minister Philip Mpango.
“In addition, we have completed procedures to procure a second new aircraft Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and an initial down-payment has been made.”
“The revival of the national airline will enhance Uganda’s competitiveness by reducing the cost of air transport, and easing connectivity to and from Uganda. It will also support faster harnessing of opportunities in tourism, agriculture and minerals, oil and gas,” Mr Kasaija added.
Rwanda will be spending $300 million on three Boeings in the coming year, with a lease already signed for one of the aircraft through an undisclosed European carrier that has since folded.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda also allocated funds for the development of their airports.
Kampala said the redevelopment of Entebbe International Airport has progressed well, with the new cargo centre already 30 per cent complete, and 20 per cent works for the modification of the passenger terminal building done: 15 per cent of the rehabilitation works for expansion of Apron 1 is complete. Construction of the Hoima Airport commenced in January, and part of the funding will come from this year’s budget.
Kenya allocated $140 million for the expansion of Malindi, Isiolo and Lokichogio airports. Both the Isiolo and Lokichogio airports will become key when the country goes into full oil production.
Kigali is banking on its $418 million Bugeresa Airport, now under construction, to further open up the country and make it a central African regional hub.
Energy
On energy, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are pushing to have more of their citizens connected to the electricity grid, with the three countries allocating more than $2 billion for power initiatives. Kenya leads with an allocation of $1.4 billion for rural electrification, last mile connectivity and connection of public facilities.
“I have set aside $59 million for rural electrification and connection of public facilities; $67 million for Last Mile Connectivity; $100 million for the national street lightning programme; $55 million for Eastern Electricity Highway Project (Ethiopia-Kenya Interconnector); $10 million for substation installation, $10 million for installation of transformers in constituencies; $10 million for connectivity subsidy; $126 million for Loiyangalani–Suswa transmission line, land compensation and counterpart funding; and $31 million for Nairobi 220KV Ring,” Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said.
Tanzania will implement the third phase of its Rural Electrification programme to improve accessibility.
“We have recently embarked on the construction of a hydroelectric power project at Rufiji River, with the capacity to generate 2,100MW. This project is at the initial stages of implementation. We will also continue with the implementation of turnkey projects of supplying electricity under REA Phase III,” Dr Mpango said.
Kampala said that priority will be given to expansion of transmission and distribution networks to industrial zones and rural growth centres. There are also plans to replace parts of the dilapidated network, which accounts for about 30 per cent of power losses.
On roads, Kenya has allocated $1.15 billion for on-going road construction projects. Uganda says that $0.85 billion will go towards construction of 600km of new roads, upgrading to tarmac of 400km, rehabilitation of 200km of existing roads, and construction of 15 bridges.
“Contracting for the 600km of roads for the production of oil will be completed by the end of this month,” Mr Kasaija said.
Kenya allocated $127 million for the exploration of geothermal, wind and solar resources.
East Africa splurges on infrastructure in budgets

2018 na bado tuko in high gear.. mind you this excludes loans ..

Regional economies have allocated a third of their individual budgets in the new financial year to infrastructure projects, aiming to boost economic activity and spur growth.
Of the $15.8 billion going to development projects, Kenya allocated $6.25 billion (39.5 per cent), followed by Tanzania at $5.3 billion, then Uganda at $3.05 billion and Rwanda at $1.28 billion.
Kenya reduced its allocation from $7.4 billion in the 2017/18 fiscal year. Tanzania’s allocation increased from $5.27 billion in the year ending June 30. Uganda had set aside $1.32 billion, while Rwanda had earmarked $924 million for development expenditure last year.
The projects range from airport upgrades to aircraft purchases, modernisation of road and railway networks, and energy generation.
Tanzania says it will prioritise the construction of its Central Railway Line under the standard gauge railway project, for which it has budgeted $3.14 billion, with about half of it paid to the contractor.
Kenya has allocated $747 million in the new financial year for the construction of Phase 2A of its SGR, from Nairobi to Naivasha in the Central Rift.
Related Content
Roads, rail to drive Tanzania growth
Big Four Agenda at core of Kenya spending
Industry, job creation on Rwanda priority list
Uganda is juggling between upgrading its metre gauge railway and initial work on its SGR, which is currently at the land compensation stage. Uganda Railways Corporation took over the operation of the metre gauge railway, after the termination of the Rift Valley Railways concession. Railway services on the Eastern Route resumed in February, and they reinstated the passenger rail service in the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
Ugandan Finance Minister Matia Kasaija reiterated the country’s commitment to developing the SGR.
“Eight per cent of the right of way for the SGR has been acquired, with 228 project affected persons in Tororo having been paid. In the new financial year, additional land on the eastern route will be procured. In addition, 42 railway wagons will be rehabilitated, bad spots along the Port Bell–Kampala and the Kampala-Malaba line will be repaired. Marking of the railway reserve boundaries will also be undertaken,” he said.
Airlines
Dar, Kampala and Kigali will also be working towards revamping their respective national carriers, Air Tanzania, Uganda Airlines and RwandAir respectively.
Tanzania has already spent $224 million on its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner expected to arrive in the country next month.
“Three aircraft, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with a capacity of 262 passengers and two Bombardier CS 300 aircraft with a capacity of 132 passengers each will be delivered later this year,” said Finance Minister Philip Mpango.
“In addition, we have completed procedures to procure a second new aircraft Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and an initial down-payment has been made.”
“The revival of the national airline will enhance Uganda’s competitiveness by reducing the cost of air transport, and easing connectivity to and from Uganda. It will also support faster harnessing of opportunities in tourism, agriculture and minerals, oil and gas,” Mr Kasaija added.
Rwanda will be spending $300 million on three Boeings in the coming year, with a lease already signed for one of the aircraft through an undisclosed European carrier that has since folded.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda also allocated funds for the development of their airports.
Kampala said the redevelopment of Entebbe International Airport has progressed well, with the new cargo centre already 30 per cent complete, and 20 per cent works for the modification of the passenger terminal building done: 15 per cent of the rehabilitation works for expansion of Apron 1 is complete. Construction of the Hoima Airport commenced in January, and part of the funding will come from this year’s budget.
Kenya allocated $140 million for the expansion of Malindi, Isiolo and Lokichogio airports. Both the Isiolo and Lokichogio airports will become key when the country goes into full oil production.
Kigali is banking on its $418 million Bugeresa Airport, now under construction, to further open up the country and make it a central African regional hub.
Energy
On energy, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are pushing to have more of their citizens connected to the electricity grid, with the three countries allocating more than $2 billion for power initiatives. Kenya leads with an allocation of $1.4 billion for rural electrification, last mile connectivity and connection of public facilities.
“I have set aside $59 million for rural electrification and connection of public facilities; $67 million for Last Mile Connectivity; $100 million for the national street lightning programme; $55 million for Eastern Electricity Highway Project (Ethiopia-Kenya Interconnector); $10 million for substation installation, $10 million for installation of transformers in constituencies; $10 million for connectivity subsidy; $126 million for Loiyangalani–Suswa transmission line, land compensation and counterpart funding; and $31 million for Nairobi 220KV Ring,” Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said.
Tanzania will implement the third phase of its Rural Electrification programme to improve accessibility.
“We have recently embarked on the construction of a hydroelectric power project at Rufiji River, with the capacity to generate 2,100MW. This project is at the initial stages of implementation. We will also continue with the implementation of turnkey projects of supplying electricity under REA Phase III,” Dr Mpango said.
Kampala said that priority will be given to expansion of transmission and distribution networks to industrial zones and rural growth centres. There are also plans to replace parts of the dilapidated network, which accounts for about 30 per cent of power losses.
On roads, Kenya has allocated $1.15 billion for on-going road construction projects. Uganda says that $0.85 billion will go towards construction of 600km of new roads, upgrading to tarmac of 400km, rehabilitation of 200km of existing roads, and construction of 15 bridges.
“Contracting for the 600km of roads for the production of oil will be completed by the end of this month,” Mr Kasaija said.
Kenya allocated $127 million for the exploration of geothermal, wind and solar resources.
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