Sh2 trillion budget for roads upgrade

By Macharia Kamau

The Kenya Roads Board plans to spend about Sh2 trillion in the development of 562,000 kilometres of road over the next 15 years.

In a Road Sector Investment Programme and Strategy presented to stakeholders yesterday, the Board said road construction and repair works would be undertaken in five-year phases and funded by Government and development partners.

Road under construction. The investment in road networks would see significant savings and creation of employment.[PHOTO: ALI ABDI / STANDARD]

According to the plan that runs through to 2024, the board will also tap into private public partnerships (PPPs) to finance development of roads.

“This programme outlines prioritised road sector investments and budgetary requirements to modernise our roads in line with Vision 2030,” said Franklin Bett, Roads Minister.

“To achieve this, we require the country to invest in excess of Sh1.8 trillion on our roads.”

The board said the investment in road networks would see significant savings as well as creation of employment.

“From the investment of Sh115 billion in the road network development, there will be road user savings from reduced vehicle operating costs and time savings estimated at Sh303 billion. This corresponds to a return on investment of Sh2.60 for every shilling spent,” said Francis Nyangaga, executive director, Kenya Roads Board.

Time savings

In the first phase running between 2010 and 2014, the board will spend Sh534.6 billion in developing 176,000 kilometres.

“In the medium-term, emphasis will be put on upgrading the remaining unpaved national network,” he said.

“Urban and rural paved road networks will be improved through eliminating backlog maintenance, and important administrative centres will be connected to the national road network with paved roads.”

Successful implementation of the plan will more than double the road network in Kenya that stands at 160,886 kilometres.

More than half of this network is in poor condition and only 11 per cent can be said to be in good condition.

He said the board had prioritised bringing of current roads to maintainable state.

“The current state of the road network is not conducive for socio-economic development of the country,” said Nyangaga.

“Dilapidated roads lead to high operating costs and in turn leads to higher prices of consumer goods and uncompetitive export goods.”

Bett said other benefits that come with a good road network and the implementation of the roads investment programme include employment creation.

“The RSIP will create over 600,000 jobs annually, mostly in the rural areas, and hence alleviate poverty,” he said.