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The Challenges of Road Connectivity

to the Counties: National Perspective

By

Eng. Meshack O. Kidenda, MBS, HSC

Director General, KeNHA

10th May, 2012

CONTENTS:1.Introduction;

2.Understanding Road Connectivity;

3.Challenges of Road Connectivity to the

Counties;

4.Directions for the future; and

5.Conclusion. 2

Kenya National Highways Authority

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A road agency established under the Kenya Roads Act 2007, responsible for the management, development, rehabilitation and maintenance of International Roads (Class A), National Trunk Roads (Class B), and Primary Roads (Class C). 

Our Vision

“A leading Highways Authority committed to quality, safe and adequate national roads”. 

Our Mandate

“To Manage, develop, rehabilitate and maintain national roads”. 

 Our Mission

“To construct and manage national roads that enhance socio-economic growth and prosperity”. 

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INTRODUCTION:

Kenya adopted a new Constitution in

August, 2010. The Constitution introduced:

a devolved system with two levels of

government; &

its territory was divided into (47) counties;

In accordance with the Constitution:

The public road network has been

categorized into: national trunk roads and

county roads;

Schedule 4 Responsibility for Roads

• County Governments are responsible for county roads, street lighting, traffic and parking, public road transport.

• National Government is responsible for transport and Communication including road traffic and the construction and operations of the national trunk roads

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National Travel• To the National Capital, parliament

and senate;• To National facilities, referral

hospitals, international airports, Ports; and

• Inter County journeys and trade.

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CURRENT STATUS:

KeNHA manages 14,090 kms of class A,B

and C roads.

Although fairly spread across the country,

the roads are generally in a better state in

the more densely populated areas

(Northern corridor)

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  KmsClass A 3,588Class B 2,645Class C 7,857Total 14,090

CLA

SS

A,

B A

ND

C R

OA

DS

NO COUNTY ABC ROADS (kms)1 Baringo 427.12 Bomet 152.93 Bungoma 221.94 Busia 207.45 Embu 132.86 Garissa 365.67 Homa Bay 244.18 Isiolo 194.79 Kajiado 535.4

10 Kakamega 269.3

11 Keiyo-Marakwet 299.112 Kericho 286.413 Kiambu 416.914 Kilifi 420.99

NO COUNTY ABC ROADS (kms)

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15 Kirinyaga 121.916 Kisii 148.917 Kisumu 278.918 Kitui 531.319 Kwale 341.220 Laikipia 297.521 Lamu 93.622 Machakos 413.023 Makueni 311.124 Mandera 273.625 Marsabit 799.026 Meru 333.027 Migori 164.828 Mombasa 61.629 Murang'a 221.430 Nairobi 231.3C

LA

SS

A,

B A

ND

C R

OA

DS

31 Nakuru 455.532 Nandi 165.133 Narok 554.534 Nyamira 97.235 Nyandarua 270.936 Nyeri 161.237 Samburu 406.538 Siaya 260.539 Taita-Taveta 415.440 Tana River 384.841 Tharaka-Nithi 21.542 Trans-Nzoia 150.743 Turkana 810.544 Uasin Gishu 316.445 Vihiga 79.946 Wajir 553.747 West Pokot 189.0

TOTAL 14,089.911CLA

SS

A,

B A

ND

C R

OA

DS

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UNDERSTANDING ROAD

CONNECTIVITY:

What is Road Connectivity?

It refers to the density of connections in

the road network and the directness of the

links.

A well-connected road network has:

many short links;

numerous intersections; and

minimal dead-ends.

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As road connectivity to the Counties

increases:

travel distances decrease & route options

increase, allowing more direct travel

between destinations, creating a more

accessible and resilient system;

there is diversification of activities &

income sources thus playing a positive role

in socio economic development;

better routing opportunities for emergency

and delivery vehicles are provided.

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Challenges of Road Connectivity to the

Counties:

1.Severe Resource (Funds) Strain:

The major constraint to the provision of

appropriate road network is the high level of

investment required to develop and maintain

the national road network.

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2. Sub Sector Reform:

To ensure implementation of the new

constitution, it is necessary to review the

legal, institutional and administrative

framework for the management of the

country’s road sub-sector.

This is work in progress

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This revised framework will define:

the funding arrangements for road

construction and management for both

National trunk roads and County roads; and

the level of cooperation and consultation

between the two governments.

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3. Land Acquisition for Right of Way:

County roads serve as linkage to urban

centers and markets and farms within

the counties.

Cost of acquiring this Right of Way and

lack of coordinated spatial planning is a

challenge.

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4. Equitable Road development:

Some parts of the network and some Counties

have in the past received more attention than

others and hence have better roads,

It will be a challenge to correct imbalance and

achieve equity in a scenario where funding is

inadequate.

Connectivity to Counties by the national trunk

roads to an agreed standard will be

undertaken even where traffic volumes

remain low.

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5. Low capacity of local contractors:

The existing local contracting capacity is

inadequate. This inadequacy fails to

facilitate the development and

connectivity to the county roads.

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6. A vast unclassified network of roads:

The country’s road sub sector has an

unclassified road network length of

100,000 km.

To facilitate road development and in

turn increase connectivity its critical to

have in place an adequate classification

system consistent with the mandates of

the two levels of government as

stipulated in the Constitution & for

prioritization purposes .

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7. Inadequate Technical Expertise:

Under the Constitution, the national

government is tasked with providing

technical assistance to the counties.

There is a large requirement by the

national and county governments of

adequate manpower who are technically

competent.

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8. Inadequate Road Construction Plant

& Equipment:

The plant and equipment currently

available for hire by the contractors and

KeNHA are inadequate.

This results in delays in road

construction, which in turn affect the

rate of connectivity to the various

County roads.

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9. Interconnection between counties:The current challenges in interconnectivity between counties include

Maralal neighbours Turkana. How do you get

from Maralal to Lodwar?

Taveta borders Kajiado. What is the road

connectivity for trade?

Narok and Kajiado. Do you go through Nakuru,

Nairobi to go to county?

Are we to open new national roads to link

them?

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DIRECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE:

a)Clarified Responsibility:

Sub sector reform is currently ongoing to

promote role clarity and accountability for

all actors.

b)Re-classification of the Road network :

To set out criteria for road classification

consistent with the mandates of the two

levels of government as stipulated in the

Fourth Schedule of Constitution.

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DIRECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE:

c)Commercialized Management:

The sub sector is currently putting in

measures to create a conducive

environment for increased private sector

participation of roads.

This is to ease the resource strain on the

National government.

Private sector participation in the form of

Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) is

ongoing.

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d) Capacity Building of Local Contractors:

The sub-sector is currently reviewing

contractor classification system and local

contractor capacity and training to

ensure effective management of

contracts in Kenya;

This is to ensure that only contractors

with the requisite competence and

adequate resources are awarded

contracts; thus facilitating that “Value

for money”.

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d) Implementation of RSIP:

The RSIP gives a plan for development of

roads across the country;

This will enhance transparency and

planning.

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CONCLUSION:

Attainment of Vision 2030 and Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) will depend

heavily on the quality and span of

connectivity of the country’s road network.

“It is not a strong economy that leads to

good roads, but rather good roads that lead

to a strong economy”

Road Sector investment Programme, RSIP,

(2011)

QuestionsQuestions??

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

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