Roads billions at stake in row

By ROSELYNE OBALA

Kenya: Control for billions of shillings allocated for roads is at the centre of a standoff between counties and the national Government over disputed transfer of road functions.

Governors are demanding an equitable share of the fuel levy and the Mechanical and Transport Fund (MTF).

According to a schedule by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) for the 2013/2014 financial year, five counties were the biggest beneficiaries of billions of shillings for roads under the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kera).

The document, which is in our possession, indicates that Nairobi, Meru, Murang’a, Nyeri and Kiambu would get more allocations than the rest of the counties combined.

Nairobi gets Sh4.6 billion, Meru Sh2 billion, Murang’a Sh1.8 billion and Nyeri Sh1.6 billion while Kiambu was allocated Sh1.2 billion for road infrastructure in the current financial year.

Kisumu and Bomet are among counties that will get least amounts of the cash to develop their roads. The schedule shows that Kisumu has been allocated Sh5 million while Bomet gets Sh25 million.

Talks to end the deadlock on the classification and transfer of road functions are ongoing but there was no deal at the meeting held Friday. Governors have insisted that Class C, D and E roads should be under county governments. The Council of Governors (CoG) criticised the Road Bill, 2014 drafted by the ministry of Roads, which defines Class A, B and C as National roads, while Class D and E belong to counties.

Bad shape

“It doesn’t matter who handles the road function. What we want is development at the counties because governors are the ones who will be crucified if the roads are in bad shape,” said CoG chairman Isaac Ruto.

“Roads are a touchy issue that if the two levels of government cannot agree might be a cause of disagreement,” he added.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau however says its up to the ministry to decide how to handles the roads function. “We are the ones that will be put to task over the matter,” he said.

Governors Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Nderitu Ngachagua (Nyeri), Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo/Marakwet) and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) criticised the Bill but called for consultation.