This archive report was first published on 6 December 2019.
On December 6, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Kenya Roads Board (Amendment) Bill 2019 into law, marking a significant reform in the country's roads sector.
The new law restructures the mandate and operations of the Kenya Roads Board and other agencies, outlining how funds, including exchequer resources, will be utilized in the construction and maintenance of the country's roads.
One of the key reforms outlined in the new law is setting a 10% limit on the money allocated to rural roads, which is 10% of the funds appropriated by Parliament annually.
Additionally, the law caps administrative expenditure on rural roads at 18% of the total allocation, covering areas such as research, standardization, capacity building, monitoring, and evaluation.
The act also empowers the Kenya Roads Board to borrow and set aside funds for repayment of loans and other facilities taken for purposes of road maintenance, development, and rehabilitation.
Notably, the signing of the Bill was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Attorney General Paul Kihara, Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi, and Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale.
