The hugely anticipated completion of the Malindi-Bagamoyo road which connects Kenya and Tanzania has been delayed until the beginning of next year as African Development Bank (AfDB), the ones footing the bill, have yet to appropriate the funds for the project.

This will eventually be a 460-kilometer highway that should have begun construction in 2016 but has faced a drawn-out slew of issues which are hindering its start. One of them being a complete redesign of the Tanzanian portion of this project, as well as a breakdown in the ability to reconcile environmental issues in the Saadani National park that is leading to an additional 80-kilometer loop extending around the wildlife preserve.

This hinderance is partially being blamed on Kenya and their failure to complete necessary prerequisites on time.

AfBD’s East African director General Gabriel Negatu is claiming the two countries have completed all the requirements that have held up the project, so now the stage is set of the last approval for appropriating funds in September. 

“Both the Kenya and Tanzania governments have finalized all their requirements to pave the way for the construction of the coastal highway,” explained Mr. Negatu at the Kenya roadshow held for the upcoming Africa Investment Forum.

AfDB will fund 70% of the project with the remaining 30% being made up between Kenya and Tanzania, respectively.