"A major partner of the Kenyan Government has been the African Development Bank [AfDB], in terms of financing. We had a 500-kilometre section that by 2012 was not yet tarmacked and with that support, it was possible to do it and it is complete," Henry Nakuru, director of new projects and rehabilitation at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), told Lusa.

Within Kenya, this section of the so-called Trans-African Highway - which links Cape Town in the south of the continent to Cairo in the north - covers 1,400 kilometres and, in addition to direct links to neighbouring countries, which allow exports, is central to internal connections.

"We have been doing sections of that road and, at the moment, it is 100% complete in terms of tarmac, from the border with Tanzania to the border with Ethiopia. It is a very important road because it interconnects with all the others (...) It is linking and feeding many other roads," he added.

After being tarmacked, contracts were awarded to widen the road in several sections, including to two lanes in each direction, and with that the development of businesses and various activities has been emerging, in addition to safety and speed in land connections.

"It has been a major project, it has attracted tourism and promoted trade along the road, with safety. There are towns that have really grown after that development, some have even tripled in population and the business that is evident," Nakuru explained.

This is the case of the AVOPRO processing plant in Sagana, about 50 kilometres from Nairobi. It was installed after the completion of the Kenol - Sagana expressway, a reconstruction and widening of an 84-kilometre section that connects to the Kenyan capital, as part of the Marua highway project, also financed by the AfDB.

With the expressway, according to data provided by the company during a visit by the AfDB on Sunday to the project, it was possible to create a business that now employs 200 workers and can receive 150 to 200 tons of avocado daily from local producers, already planning to export to Europe.

In addition, as reported by local transporters in the village of Makutano heard by Lusa, of the constant accidents on the same road, now, "for more than a month", no case has been registered and women who make a living selling rice and fruit on the side of this road now have reserved and safe areas for a business that is the only one they know.

In this Marua highway project alone, the AfDB approved financing of €209 million in 2019, with the total completion of the work expected by the end of this year.

In addition to this investment, several other contracts secured by KeNHA are underway along this route, namely maintenance and widening, which immediately guarantee greater safety in land transport.

More than 3,000 participants are expected in Nairobi from today for the AfDB's annual meetings, where the need to reform international financial institutions to develop the continent will be discussed.

"Africa needs transformation in terms of socio-economic development [...] this is still a work in progress. Much has been achieved, but much needs to be done," said AfDB Group Secretary-General Vincent O. Nmehielle, anticipating the start of the annual meetings, which will run until 31 May in Nairobi, Kenya, with the institution's priority being to lead the "challenge of reforming global financial institutions".

Vicente O. Nmehielle added that the AfDB intends to reflect on its role in this process, particularly at the level of the international financial architecture, which he recalls was "designed primarily to resuscitate Europe after World War II".

"There will be outcomes and decisions taken by the governors on the direction that the bank will take, possibly in the area of transforming Africa and what role the bank will play [...] in reforming the international financial architecture," he explained.

The African Development Bank Group is the leading African development finance institution and is meeting in Nairobi to discuss "Transforming Africa, the African Development Bank Group and the Reform of the Global Financial Architecture".

The AfDB Group has 81 member states, including 53 African countries and 28 countries outside the continent, including Portugal.

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