The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a public tender notice for the maintenance and development of national roads for the 2025/26 financial year, signaling the commencement of a fresh procurement cycle for infrastructure contractors.

According to the notice, the Authority invited bids from eligible contractors to be funded through the Road Maintenance Levy Fund and Development vote.

Prospective bidders must pay a non-refundable fee of Ksh1,000.00 in the form of a banker’s cheque to access tender documents at the Authority’s supply chain offices.

The documents will also be available free of charge via KeNHA’s website (www.kenha.co.ke) or the Public Procurement Information Portal (PPIP) at www.tenders.go.ke.

KeNHA has also encouraged bidders to “download the tender documents … to minimize physical visits to KeNHA Offices.”

A key requirement arising from this tender is the mandatory pre-tender site visits, as stipulated in the detailed notices to be uploaded online.

All pages of submitted tender documents must also be sequentially serialized by the bidder.

Late submissions will be rejected, and electronic tendering is not permitted.

The completed bid must be submitted in a sealed envelope to the Deputy Director, Supply Chain Management at the KeNHA headquarters in Nairobi.

Tender Criteria and Roadworks Scope

KeNHA, established under the Kenya Roads Act of 2007, is responsible for the management, rehabilitation, development, and maintenance of national trunk roads.

The new tender cycle covers both routine maintenance and developmental works, to be executed across KeNHA’s road network under both the Road Maintenance Levy Fund and the development vote.

In line with past procurement practices, the documents specify that bidders must acquaint themselves fully with site conditions (“Every bidder shall make their own arrangements to familiarize themselves with the site conditions”) before submitting proposals.

Previous tenders have been structured as performance-based contracts (PBC).

For instance, KeNHA’s tender for maintenance of the Isebania–Sare (A1) road is structured as a performance-based contract.

KeNHA’s “Works (Maintenance)” tender register shows ongoing contracts in the 2024–25 cycle, with routine maintenance of priority roads listed across multiple corridors.

Strategic Context & Challenges Ahead

Kenya’s road network is under increasing strain from higher traffic volumes, climate impacts such as heavy rains, and wear and tear from heavier loads.

KeNHA has been under pressure to minimize disruptions by delivering timely maintenance and rehabilitation.

Moreover, Kenya is also advancing large-scale highway projects through public–private partnerships.

In May 2024, for example, KeNHA signed a $3.6 billion agreement with the U.S. investment manager Everstrong Capital to build a 440 km expressway between Nairobi and Mombasa.

The ongoing rehabilitation and maintenance works invited by the new tender are complementary to these flagship projects, ensuring that existing roads remain serviceable during periods of major expansion.

In recent years, KeNHA’s contracts (e.g. Rumuruti–Naibor) have included robust checklists covering technical, environmental, scheduling, and safety requirements.

Outlook and Action Steps

With the tender now open, contractor firms must act swiftly to download and review the detailed schedules and specifications when they become available.

Bidders should also carefully monitor KeNHA and PPIP portals for any addenda or clarifications.

As emphasized in the notice, “All interested bidders are required to continually check the Kenya National Highways Authority website … or Public Procurement Information Portal … for any tender addenda or clarifications that may arise before submission date.”

Transport CS Davis Chirchir appears before the Committee on Appointments for vetting on August 2, 2024. PHOTO/ Parliament