Nairobi could soon see major improvements in traffic management after the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) launched an international tender for the second phase of its Intelligent Transport System (ITS), a project designed to ease congestion at some of the city’s busiest junctions.
The Sh10.8 billion project will see the installation of advanced traffic management technologies and the upgrading of 60 intersections across the capital, as the government steps up efforts to tackle traffic jams that cost the economy billions of shillings every year.
The project is being financed through a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), with total funding amounting to $83.8 million.
In a tender notice published on June 16, Kenya Urban Roads Authority said: “The Government of the Republic of Kenya has received a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea, from the resources of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the Republic of Korea, in the amount of $83.8 million toward payments under the contract for the Design and Build of the Nairobi ITS Establishment and Junctions Improvement Project – Phase II.”
The authority is seeking a contractor to undertake both design and construction works under the project, which forms part of Nairobi’s wider smart mobility programme.
Among the planned installations are 60 intelligent traffic signal systems, 60 CCTV cameras, 13 vehicle detector systems, two variable message signs, and 60 vehicle enforcement systems. The works will also include street lighting improvements, a one-kilometre bridge, and the extension of two existing bridges.
The second phase builds on an earlier ITS programme that introduced smart traffic signals and surveillance systems at selected intersections in Nairobi, helping authorities better manage traffic flow and monitor road use.
Kenya Urban Roads Authority said the successful bidder will not only deliver the infrastructure but will also help ensure its long-term sustainability through technical support and skills transfer.
“The contractor shall provide and deploy experts for a period of four years to provide operational support and to assist the employer in achieving sustainable operation and maintenance of the works,” the authority said.
According to the tender notice, the project aims to complete design and build works within 30 months after commencement.
The authority has opened the bidding process to eligible firms from EDCF member countries, with interested bidders required to provide a bid security of USD 1 million.
Tender submissions will close on August 4, 2026.
Kenya Urban Roads Authority has scheduled a mandatory site visit for June 23, 2026, while a pre-bid conference will be held on July 2, 2026, at its Nairobi headquarters.
The authority further advised prospective bidders to monitor its website for any changes or additional information relating to the tender process.
“All interested bidders are required to continually check the Kenya Urban Roads Authority website for any tender addenda or clarifications that may arise before the submission date,” KURA said.
The initiative is part of efforts to modernize Nairobi’s transport network and improve mobility as the city continues to experience rapid population growth and rising vehicle ownership.
– By Regan Oluoch
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