Ignore clamour for immediate devolution of road management

Construction of Kenol-Sagana-Marwa highway on May 31, 2022. [File, Standard]

Kenya has achieved substantial advancements in expanding and enhancing its road infrastructure in the past 20 years. National agencies, including the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura), and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), have been essential in developing the road network into a stronger system that now includes major highways, in rural and urban areas. These institutions have taken the lead in development efforts under the Ministry of Roads' while ensuring consistent oversight and technical expertise.

County governments serve as the fourth primary stakeholder in the road sector by managing their respective county roads. Political leaders and various stakeholders are now advocating for counties to assume more responsibility for road functions, including both urban and rural road management. The Constitution recognises devolution as an essential element, yet giving counties more responsibility within the road sector now presents significant risks. The rationale behind postponing this transfer stems from the practical challenges that counties need to address prior to assuming additional responsibilities.