Counties poised for share of road maintenance levy under new Bill
The Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, proposes changes that would ensure counties benefit directly from the fuel levy collected for road upkeep.
County governments may soon receive a guaranteed share of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) to help maintain, rehabilitate, and develop roads within their areas.
The Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, proposes changes that would ensure counties benefit directly from the fuel levy collected for road upkeep.
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Currently, the Kenya Roads Board Act, Cap 408A, classifies roads into national, rural, and urban categories, with no specific allocation for counties.
The Bill seeks to amend this by introducing a new classification that allocates at least five per cent of the total funds from the levy to county governments. This move aims to provide counties with clear access to funds designated for their road networks.
“The goal is to make sure counties receive money specifically set aside for maintaining, rehabilitating, and developing their roads,” Kaluma said.
The Bill also proposes a reallocation of the existing shares. It suggests reducing the Constituency Roads Fund allocation from 22 per cent to 21 per cent, cutting the national roads’ share from 40 per cent to 36 per cent, and lowering the urban roads allocation from 15 per cent to 14 per cent.
The Constituency Roads Fund is managed by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, national roads by the National Highways Authority, and urban roads by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority.
If the Bill becomes law, counties will be required to assign a department responsible for the maintenance and development of county roads.
They will also have to open and maintain a special purpose account at the Central Bank of Kenya specifically for funds from the Road Maintenance Levy Fund.
In addition, the Bill requires counties to submit an annual road programme to the Kenya Roads Board at least six months before the start of every financial year. This plan must be approved by the county executive committees.
The Kenya Roads Board will determine the form and content of the programme and will oversee the monitoring and evaluation of all works, goods, and services financed by the fund.
To maintain uniform standards across the country, the Bill further requires counties to implement road projects in line with national policy, standards, and guidelines issued by the Cabinet Secretary.
This is meant to ensure consistency and quality in road maintenance and development efforts throughout the country.
This amendment signals a shift toward decentralising road management, empowering counties with their funds and responsibilities. It also aims to clarify roles among national agencies and county governments to improve the road network’s upkeep across Kenya.
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