County governments may soon receive at least 5 per cent of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) to maintain, rehabilitate and develop county roads if Parliament passes a new proposal into law.

The Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, seeks to amend the Kenya Roads Board Act, Cap 408A, to give counties a direct share of the fund.

The Bill also proposes a reclassification of roads to clarify the responsibilities for their upkeep across the country.

“This is aimed at ensuring that the county governments have access to financial resources specifically earmarked for the maintenance, rehabilitation, and development of county roads,” Kaluma said.

Under the current law, roads are classified as national, rural and urban. The amendment would see the allocation to the Constituency Roads Fund, managed by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, reduced from 22 per cent to 21 per cent, with the funds equally shared among constituencies.

The share for national roads, managed by the National Highways Authority, would drop from 40 per cent to 36 per cent, while urban roads, managed by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, would get 14 per cent instead of the current 15 per cent.

If the Bill is passed, counties will be required to designate a department responsible for road maintenance, rehabilitation and development. They will also have to open and maintain a special purpose account at the Central Bank of Kenya to receive the funds.

The law would compel county governments to submit an annual road programme to the Kenya Roads Board at least six months before the start of each financial year, with the plans approved by the respective county executive committees.

“The Board shall specify the form and content of an annual road programme, and monitor and evaluate all works, goods, and services financed by the Fund,” the Bill states.

To ensure uniformity, counties would be required to align their work with national policy, standards and guidelines issued by the Cabinet Secretary.