China-funded road in Nairobi opens for traffic

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart John Pombe Magufuli launch the Nairobi Southern Bypass at a ceremony attended by residents and officials from both countries in Nairobi, capital city of Kanya.

A new section of roadway, funded and built by China, has opened near Nairobi, Kenya, which is expected to significantly ease traffic in the Kenyan capital.

The new section of road, known as the Southern Bypass, is also expected to create regional benefits.

The newly-completed project is a roughly 30-kilometer stretch of highway running south of Nairobi.

Kenyan Secretary of Health, James Macharia, says the roadway itself is going to do a lot to help ease traffic congestion in the Kenyan capital, as heavy trucks are going to be able to avoid going through the city while transporting goods to other parts of the country, and the larger East African region.

"It is very important in terms of not just reducing the congestion of traffic in Nairobi, but also in terms of connecting the countries of East Africa. If you go towards the right on this road, you will be going towards Tanzania; if you go towards the left of this road, you will be going towards Uganda. So, this road is very important in terms of enhancing the regional cooperation and development of the region."

Taking nearly 4-years to complete, the Southern Bypass is one of three highway projects the Chinese government has funded to help ease traffic in Nairobi.

The Export-Import Bank of China has put up 85-percent of the cost.

The China Road and Bridge Construction Corporation built the roadway, employing around 2-thousand locals as part of the process.

CRBC deputy General Manager An Aijun says they were careful to take in environmental factors when building the road.

"We combined Chinese and Kenyan designs when building this road. It was completed based on the local environment. We used elaborate designs and meticulous construction work in order to ensure smooth and safe traffic."

Locals living along the bypass say the new road is also going to save lives.

"We are very happy with the road and the community is also very happy. Before it was a very dangerous place; people could not pass [because there was] a lot of traffic. But nowadays, it is very easy, and we are happy about it. Most of us when we are going to the hospitals. It is a very nice way. So we are very happy about the road."

There are around 3-thousand traffic-related fatalities per year in Nairobi, and many say the new bypass will help improve road safety.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued a statement, saying he believes the new Chinese-backed bypass is going to unleash economic and social benefits in Kenya and in the wider eastern African region.