The latest approval comes months after the National Land Commission (NLC) published a gazette notice paving the way for land acquisition along sections of the Isiolo-Mandera corridor.
In the notice issued on May 29 on behalf of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the commission announced a series of deletions, corrections and additions to parcels of land earmarked for compulsory acquisition for the project.
The notice specifically focused on the 77-kilometre Isiolo-Kulamawe section of the highway traversing Isiolo and Meru counties. According to the NLC, the acquisition is intended to facilitate the construction of the road as well as the installation of fibre optic cable infrastructure along the corridor.
Once complete, the Isiolo-Mandera corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time between towns in Northern Kenya, making the movement of people and goods faster and more efficient across the region. The highway is also expected to improve access to essential services, including healthcare, education and markets, especially in areas that have historically faced transport challenges.
The project is further expected to strengthen security operations and stimulate economic activity in underserved regions by opening up trade routes and improving regional connectivity.
President William Ruto has in the recent past emphasised that the corridor could play a key role in transforming Northern Kenya’s economy and supporting cross-border trade within the Horn of Africa.
Additionally, the government also believes the project will reinforce Kenya’s position as a regional logistics and energy hub by improving transport connectivity within the Horn of Africa.
The targeted parcels include land under the Isiolo Township and Igembe North/Amwathi Mutuati sections, alongside several other land reference numbers located within the project route in Isiolo and Meru counties, underscoring the government’s push to accelerate implementation of the broader highway project.
