The Kenya Roads Board (KRB) has allocated Ksh3.7 billion to all 47 counties for road and bridge maintenance in the 2024/2025 financial year. The funds were sourced from the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF), which is financed through an Ksh18-per-litre fuel levy on petrol and diesel. This levy is a critical component of the nationwide effort to repair, rehabilitate, and preserve public roads.
In the latest disbursement, counties such as Nakuru, Kitui, and Nairobi received the highest allocations. Nakuru was allocated Ksh183 million, Kitui received Ksh152 million, and Nairobi was given Ksh120 million. Other counties with significant allocations included Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado, each receiving between Ksh100 million and Ksh120 million.
On the other end of the spectrum, Vihiga County received the lowest allocation, amounting to Ksh37.5 million. It was closely followed by Nyamira, which received Ksh41.4 million, and Busia, with Ksh45.5 million. Mombasa and Kisii counties were allocated Ksh45.6 million and Ksh60.7 million respectively. Mid-level allocations were directed to counties such as Kilifi (Ksh85.8 million), Uasin Gishu (Ksh86.2 million), Turkana (Ksh88.1 million), and Wajir (Ksh90.5 million). Other counties, including Garissa, Marsabit, Laikipia, Kakamega, and Tharaka Nithi, received allocations ranging between Ksh60 million and Ksh83 million.
To ensure effective use of the funds, county governments have been instructed to submit detailed work plans to KRB for approval. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, 12th August 2025. These plans will outline how each county intends to utilize its allocation for the maintenance and improvement of road networks.
The disbursement comes at a time when the management of fuel levies has been under intense public scrutiny, largely due to the high fuel prices that motorists continue to face. Despite the concerns, authorities have defended the structure of the levy, emphasizing its role in maintaining critical road infrastructure.
A portion of the fuel levy has also been redirected to settle debts from stalled road projects. There has been a push to prioritize reviving key projects rather than investing heavily in roads that are susceptible to damage during heavy rains. Contractors had previously halted work due to unpaid bills amounting to approximately Ksh130 billion. The additional Ksh7-per-litre charge on fuel has been securitized to offset these pending infrastructure debts.
