East Afrika

East Africa is a region located in the eastern part of the African continent. It comprises several countries, including Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

East Africa is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, the Red Sea to the north, and the African Great Lakes to the west. It shares land borders with Central and North Africa, as well as the Middle East. The region is known for its diverse wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and cultural richness.

The road network in East Africa varies from country to country. Some countries, like Kenya and Tanzania, have developed road networks with modern highways and expressways. In contrast, other countries, such as Somalia and South Sudan, have limited road infrastructure due to years of civil war and underinvestment.

According to World Bank data, the total length of the road network in East Africa is approximately 745,000 km. Of this network, only about 29% is paved, while the rest is made up of unpaved roads, including gravel and 4×4 tracks. However, many governments in the region have made significant investments in infrastructure development in recent years, leading to improvements in the quality and quantity of paved roads and expressways.

In Kenya, for instance, the government has constructed several major highways, including the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway and the Thika Superhighway, which have greatly improved connectivity and reduced travel time between major cities. Tanzania has also invested heavily in road infrastructure, with the construction of the Dar es Salaam-Dodoma Highway and the Arusha-Namanga-Athi River Highway.

Despite these improvements, there is still a long way to go to improve the road network in East Africa. Many rural areas are still inaccessible due to poor road conditions, which limits economic growth and development. Governments in the region must continue to prioritize infrastructure development to improve access to remote areas, support trade, and spur economic growth.