Kenya, South Sudan road ministers meet for Juba-Eldoret Road project
The two ministers pledged their commitment to working together to ensure the road corridor is financed and developed as directed by the Kenya’s and South Sudan presidents
By James Chatim
On Friday, South Sudan Minister of Roads and Bridges, Simon Mijak Mijok met with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir, and agreed on the construction of the Juba-Eldoret Highway.
The two ministers pledged their commitment to working together so that the Juba-Eldoret Road Corridor is fully financed and developed as planned.
The meeting followed the recent directives issued by President Salva Kiir and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto during the latter’s state visit to Juba.
The heads of state discussed bilateral issues between the two countries including the development of the Juba-Nadapal-Eldoret Corridor.
The two leaders directed the ministers responsible for the roads in both countries to undertake discussions immediately with the World Bank regional office in Nairobi and agree on financing and building of the 11-kilometer road.
Last week, the Toposa community in Eastern Equatoria State rejected the resumption of the road construction project from Nadapal to Nakodok proposed by President William Ruto in his recent visit to Juba.
The community said Kenya is claiming the 11 km stretch of land between Nadapal and Nadokok and parts of South Sudan territory.
“Reference to the Joint Communique on the occasion of the official visit to Juba by H.E William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya on 6th November 2024 in which he requested his counterpart H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit to allow the construction of 11km Nadapal to Nadokok road. The entire Toposa Community in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan, and the diaspora across the world rejects the request of the Kenyan President and directives of the two Heads of State directing their respective Ministers responsible for Roads,” the statement read in part.
“We reject any attempt to allow the Republic of Kenya to extend the construction of the road from Nadapal to Nadokok. Kenya is claiming the 11km Nadapal- Nadokok as part of their A1 road infrastructure contrary to the international boundary delimited in 1902 and 1914 Order of the Uganda Council,” it added.
However, the Eldoret-Juba Highway will be built to bitumen standards and will include a one-stop border post at Nadapal among other key transport amenities.
The road will be built in two segments. The first segment spans 340km between Juba and Nadapal at the Kenya-South Sudan border, while the second section stretches 600km from Nadapal to Eldoret town.
The meeting followed the recent directives issued by President Salva Kiir and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto during the latter’s state visit to Juba.
