The government is seeking to foster infrastructural relationships with its neighbour South Sudan.

Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport and Public Works Kipchumba Murkomen yesterday hosted a delegation from South Sudan led by Simon Mijok Mijak, the Minister for Roads and Bridges.

“South Sudan is a crucial partner for Kenya on trade and diplomacy. It is the second-largest user of the Port of Mombasa after Uganda, moving about three million metric tonnes of cargo annually,” said Murkomen.

The meeting focused on resolving the longstanding issues related to the development of the 350km Nadapal-Juba road.

“We committed to signing a Memorandum of Understanding that will separate border issues from connectivity, paving the way for the construction of the road.”

According to Murkomen, the upgrading of the road to bitumen standards will boost socio-economic development in Kenya and South Sudan. Its benefits will include enhancing seamless direct trade between the two nations, reducing transportation costs for exports and imports, reducing travel time for traders, creating job opportunities and building peaceful coexistence between the people of the two countries.

“Upon completion, the Nadabal-Juba road will eventually be connected to that from Juba to Douala in Cameroon through the Central African Republic, effectively linking East Africa to West Africa as part of the Trans-African Highway,” he added.

The CS thanked the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority, which was represented at the meeting, for facilitating discussions between Kenya and South Sudan to enhance connectivity between the two nations.