The World Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) are contributing up to $420,000 for a feasibility study to develop a submarine cable along the eastern seaboard of the African continent.
Kenya's Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Kalonzo Musyoka, on 6 July 2004 signed a 41 year contract for Canadian firm "Tiomin Resources Inc Kwale Titanium mining project.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) on behalf of Kenya Railways and Canarail Inc on behalf of Uganda Railways have jointly advertised a Request for Qualification inviting Lead Investors, meeting certain financial and legal criteria, to submit an application to pre-qualify to participate in the operations of the railways.
To acquire a permanent and visible presence in East Africa, Nation Media Group (NMG) in September launched an upmarket English newspaper, The Citizen.
The African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) held a Workshop in Nairobi on 10 November 2004 and its General Assembly the following day at the Safari Park. Hotel.
Rehabilitation of key roads and airports in the country is set to begin in February next year, following the release of nearly Sh22 billion by the World Bank
President Kibaki, when inaugurating the Olkaria II power plant in March 2004, announced that KenGen was seeking funding to expand the new 70 MW plant by adding a third unit to generate an additional 35 MW.
Bamburi Cement has entered into a technical pact with Moi University to further research and development in the area of low-cost and affordable housing using innovative technologies.
Ksh206 million is to be spent in drilling boreholes in Makueni and Machakos districts in the first phase of a project sponsored by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
On 30 November 2004, Kenya received from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), a Sh3.5 billion credit in support of the Northern Corridor improvement and the energy sub-sector projects.
In November 1999, the Heads of State of the three East African countries signed a treaty establishing the East African Community (EAC) with its secretariat located in Arusha.
In response to a request from the Government of Kenya, the Government of Japan agreed to conduct a Master Plan Study for Urban Transport in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
The Ministry of Roads and Public Works has awarded a Ksh4,604 million contract to SOGEA SATOM of France for the reconstruction of the Mai Mahiu – Naivasha – Lanet Road. This road is part of the Northern Corridor being funded by the European Union.
Eldoret Municipality has recently completed a major expansion of its sewerage system, in line with the growing development of the town. The Eldoret Sanitation project, financed jointly by the Government of Kenya and a grant from the German Development Bank – Kreditanstalt for Wiederaufbau (KfW) was commissioned in May 2004.
The World Bank has donated equipment and vehicles, inclusive of a pick-up valued at Sh2.2 million, to the Moi University School of Environmental Studies. This is in an effort to facilitate the construction of inland fish farms that will ease the current pressure on Lake Victoria fish stocks. The donations will enhance the inland fish farm Capacity Building Component in the university.
Kenya Petroleum Refinery (KPRL) engineers invited IEK Mombasa Branch members to their plant on 16 February 2005 to share with them their experiences on tank maintenance. Five members and one guest arrived at the refinery at 2.30 pm and were accorded a warm reception.
The Ministry of Roads and Public Works have recently announced the award of a number of contracts funded from the Fuel Levy Fund and the Development Fund. They include:
The South African railway operator that has won the 25-year management contract for the Kenya-Uganda line has set its sights on emerging as the leading regional player in railway operations.
The introduction of flights to Guangzhou in China is part of Kenya Airways plans to expand its routes in Africa and the Far East, said the airline’s Managing Director, Titus Naikuni. Speaking during the inauguration of the route on 15 October 2005, Mr Naikuni said the new flight would meet the demand for imports of Chinese goods.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) handed over to Lands Minister Amos Kimunya on 25 October 2005 a data-set of digital maps covering the City of Nairobi. The maps were in hard and soft copy.
Hayer Bishan Singh & Sons Ltd are undertaking the reinstatement of the Kisian – Bondo road (C27) under a Ksh 641,987,000 contract for the Ministry of Roads and Public Works. The contract was awarded on 30th October 2003 and work commenced on 1st April 2004. The contract period was 18 months and work is now approaching completion.
The Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya, which is a member of FIDIC arranged a reception at Nairobi Club on 13 October 2005 when the former President of FIDIC, Mr Richard Kell addressed members and guests on Design – Build contracts – opportunities and challenges.
Kenya Pipeline Company has announced plans to increase the Mombasa – Nairobi pipeline flow rate from the current 440 cubic meters of oil per hour to 880 cubic meters per hour.
Uganda’s stalled Bujagali power project on the River Nile, 8 km downstream of Nalubaale and Kiira generation stations (formerly Owen Falls) is scheduled to restart in July following the signing in Kampala on 13 December 2005 of a power purchase agreement between the Energy Ministry and Bujagali Energy Limited a consortium led by Kenyan-based Industrial Promotion Services (IPS).
Tata Chemicals Limited has bought control of UK soda ash company Brunner Mond the parent company of Magadi Soda, for $ 113 million, capping a year in which Indian firms spent more than $300 million on acquisitions in Britain alone.
Miritini to Maji ya Chumvi. The contract will include the construction of two ultra-modern weigh bridges - a modern and a weigh-in-motion type. Also to be constructed are lorry parking and service amenity facilities.
The El Nino floods that hit Kenya in 1998 destroyed many roads, bridges and other infrastructure all over the country. Certain parts of the country were completely cut off from others as bridges that existed for decades were washed away.
The Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company are making good progress on the activities within their Institutional Restructuring Project according to their Director of Technical Services, Eng Joseph P Kimani.
During the past year the company has focused on streamlining its operations and strengthening its capacities to enable it to deliver quality water and sewerage services to the people of Nairobi. At the same time the Company has placed great emphasis on strengthening its commercial operations and thus project funds have gone into purchasing consumer meters as well as into facilitating the streamlining of the billing system.
At a stakeholders’ workshop organized by the Company at the Utalii Hotel on 6 December 2005 the former permanent secretary, Ministry of Water and Irrigation Eng Maalim Mahboob said some Sh 40 billion is required to make water accessible to most Kenyans and part of this would have to come from private firms. At the same meeting Patrick Kinyori, chairman of the Athi River Services
Eng Maina Kariuki, Chairman, Kenya Rainwater Association and Principal Compliance and Enforcement Officer, NEMA reports below on the Conference proceedings
The East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) project has been established to develop and implement a submarine cable system to provide fibre optic telecommunications facilities to the East Coast of Africa, linking Northern and Southern Africa international gateways to the system for onward world-wide connectivity.
Both Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and KenGen posted considerably enhanced profits for the year ended 30 June 2005. KPLC’s after tax profit rose to Sh 1.2 billion and KenGen to Sh 1.7 billion.
A five-storey building, belonging to Capital Developers, under construction on Nairobi’s Ronald Ngala Street collapsed on Monday, 23 January, 2006 resulting in the death of at least 14 people with well over 100 injured.
On 26 January the Ministry of Roads and Public Works formed a Special Committee of professionals to investigate the collapse of the building. Chaired by Eng Kariuki Muchemi, the other members of the team are Eng Arjan Shankla, Eng Jonathan Mbui, Eng S K Kimemia, Eng R K Kosgei, Arch Erastus Abonyo, Arch Francis G Mungai, Arch P O Sika, Mairura
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is to build a 2.5 MW geothermal power station from a single well at Eburru near Naivasha. The binary plant which will utilize one wellhead is scheduled to be complete in 2008 and will inject 2.5 MW of electricity into the national grid. This addition will bring KenGen’s total geothermal power output to 117.5 MW.
Background
The 380tch expansion was in line with what Mumias Sugar Company (MSC) has done over the last 30 years, where it has progressively increased sugar production from 20,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes per annum.
In tandem with the flotation of its shares to the public, KenGen has announced a new Sh 7.3 billion expansion strategy to set up a new 80 MW gas turbine plant at Rabai, Mombasa. The project site is 30 km west of Mombasa next to KPLC Rabai 220/132kv substation.
Energy Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri announced late March that the Government had signed a drilling contract with prospecting companies to begin work by October.
When opening the ICT Workshop in Nairobi on 28 February 2006, President Kibaki said the Government will sell 34 per cent of Telkom Kenya to the public through the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
Kenya Airways signed on 7 March 2006 a multi-billion-shilling purchase agreement with Boeing Company for the delivery of six Boeing 787-8 `Dreamliner' aircraft.
Engineering is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realization in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings jobs and homes to men and women. Then it elevates the standard of living and adds to the comfort of life. This is the engineer's high privilege.
A British investor, Mr Ian Henderson, through his company Superior Homes Kenya, is developing a medium cost housing estate at Stoney Athi, 30 km from Nairobi. He plans to build 1,550 three-bedroom bungalows on a 500 acre plot purchased last year from East African Portland Cement at a cost of Shs 140 million. The development will be known as Green Park Stoney Athi.
Francis Mugo, Managing Director of Nairobi City Water & Sewerage Company has in a recent Company Newsletter sent out an alert about the use of plastic water bottles.
After several months of delay caused by disputes over the management of the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) which will link the east of the continent to the rest of the world,
The governments of Kenya and China signed development agreements under the economic and technical cooperation between the two countries at the conclusion of visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit late April. President Mwai Kibaki and the Chinese President witnessed the signing of the agreements at State House
A pilot project to install pre-payment meters at customers’ premises in selected estates is set to commence in July following opening and evaluation of tenders that has been ongoing
Two transmission lines will be built at a cost of US$ 19 million with funding from the Chinese government. These will be the first electricity projects in Kenya to be financed by the Chinese government.
Energy Ministers from Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia met at Nyali Beach Hotel, Mombasa on 2nd and 3rd May 2006 to discuss the proposed power link from South Africa to Kenya.
African countries must link their power grids to solve perpetual electricity shortages, Union of Producers, Transporters and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa (UPDEA) Secretary General Eng Mutima Sakrini said recently in Nairobi.
In 2004 the Government of Kenya constituted an Inter-ministerial Reform Task Force (RTF) and a Joint Reform Steering Committee chaired by Eng C F Kiranga, Engineer-in-Chief, Ministry of Roads and Public Works
The Ministry of Roads and Public Works held a meeting with roads contractors on 23 June 2006 to discuss contractual matters and other items of concern to the Ministry and to the contracting organisations. At the meeting such matters, as delay in completion of works and sub-standard workmanship were aired.
Livestock Minister, Mr Joseph Munyao announced late August that Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) Kibarani plant in Mombasa will reopen by December. This was later confirmed by President Mwai Kibaki when opening Mombasa Show.
The government has signed a US $ 10 million loan agreement with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development towards co-financing the construction of Dundori-Ol Kalou-Njambini road.
Kenya Airways announced on 12 September 2006 that it would commence direct flights to Paris from 26 October this year. Initially there will be three flights per week.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has signed a contract with French company Sofreavia aimed at institutional strengthening of aviation in Kenya, flight safety and training.
During the first commemoration of the Kenya Army Day held at Lanet on 8 September 2006, President Mwai Kibaki lauded the Kenya Army for its role in the construction of dams and the sinking of boreholes in various parts of the country.
Safaricom Ltd has entered into a partnership for the provision of data services with Virtual City Ltd, a local company specializing in software development and for providing Mobile Communication (M-Commerce) and E-Commerce services.
Roads and Public Works Permanent Secretary Amb (Eng) Mohamed Mahamud announced early September that a number of major roads are to be rebuilt at a cost of Sh 32 billion.
Lawrence Shivo, who recently completed his University Degree in Textile Engineering from Moi University, was a delegate at the 58th International Congress held at the International Congress in Warsaw, Poland between August 18th and 8th September, 2006. Delegates attended from 95 countries around the world.
Mumias Sugar Company has appointed Dutch company HVA International to undertake studies for the multi-billion sugar project on the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) delta.
The African Development Bank will finance the upgrading of the road between Isiolo and Merille River in Eastern Province to the tune of Sh 3.5 billion.
President Mwai Kibaki on 26 April 2007 launched, at a ceremony held in Nyayo Stadium, a Shs 1.78 billion construction project to upgrade the highway from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Gigiri.
A number of significant product introductions have been made over the past few months, all making an important contribution to the Davis & Shirtliff (D&S) product range.
Lake Natron Resources Ltd, a joint venture between the National Development Corporation of Tanzania and Tata Chemicals Ltd of India, who own Magadi Soda Company, plan to construct a soda ash factory near Tanzania’s Lake Natron with a capacity of producing 500,000 metric tonnes of soda annually.
At a “ground breaking” ceremony at Olkaria on 18 June 2007 Energy Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri kicked off the construction of Olkaria IV, 70 MW geothermal power project when he witnessed the commencement of the drilling of 6 appraisal wells that will produce the steam to power the generators.
Following Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Kenya in early 2006, the Kenya Government gave the state owned China National Overseas Corporation (CNOC) exclusive rights over six blocks spanning 115,343 square kilometres under a Production Sharing Contract agreement.
Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) is describing as economic sabotage the escalating vandalism of transformers in the electricity network, which appears to be the work of a well organised syndicate, and which is leaving thousands of customers without electricity for long periods.
The long awaited building of the Bujagali hydro-power project in Uganda finally started on 21 August 2007 when the Aga Khan officially inaugurated the project at a ground breaking ceremony at the dam site. The ceremony was attended by President Yoweri Museveni and by state and national officials.
As reported in the November/December 2006 issue of Kenya Engineer three oil wells had been drilled on the shores of Lake Albert in North West Uganda and that all three were successful. The wells were drilled by Australian oil exploration company Hardman Resources who have since been bought by Tullow Oil Company of UK.
The container traffic through the port of Mombasa has been steadily growing at a rate of 12.3% per annum and in 2006 the port handled 479,355 TEUs which was well above its designed capacity of 250,000 TEUs.
The Kiln is the equipment in the burning section where the raw meal is transformed into Clinker by burning at a maximum temperature of 1450 degrees Celsius.
Kenya-Uganda Rail service concessionaire Rift Valley Railways (RVR) has moved a notch higher in its ongoing corporate efficiency enhancement process with the unveiling of a Kshs 114 million Information Technology framework.
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