Parliamentarians have raised serious concerns about the declining state of roads across the country, questioning why repairs fail despite consistent government funding.
The National Assembly Special Funds Accounts Committee, led by Fatuma Zainab (Migori), summoned Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) Director General Eng. Silas Kinoti to review the audited accounts of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 financial years.
Members probed the authority on oversight, project execution, and the overall quality of roads maintained under the fund.
Several lawmakers highlighted the rapid deterioration of roads and blamed lapses in supervision and poor contractor performance.
Teso South MP Mary Emaase noted, “It’s costing the country more to repair roads we could easily maintain,” pointing out instances where drainage waste remains on roads after cleaning, undermining maintenance efforts.
Busia MP Catherine Omanyo questioned the uneven standards of road projects in different counties and stressed the need to vet contractors rigorously.
“We must ensure fairness and professionalism in the award and completion of road projects,” she said, advocating for blacklisting underperforming firms.
Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna also raised the issue of equitable allocation, urging that all counties benefit fairly from road maintenance projects. He encouraged contractors to learn from international best practices to improve the quality and durability of roads.
Responding to the committee, Eng. Kinoti explained that delays in some projects were due to funding shortfalls. He assured MPs that priority is now being given to ongoing works before starting new road projects.
Chairperson Zainab reiterated the committee’s commitment to protecting taxpayers’ money, urging the authority to adopt sustainable maintenance measures such as tree replanting along roads. She stressed that consistent upkeep is vital to prevent accidents and enhance road safety for all users.