CS Chirchir: Budget Shortfalls Could Delay Road Projects by 15 Years

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir appeared before the Senate yesterday18/9/2024, where he addressed the challenges of insufficient budget allocations, which he identified as the main obstacle to completing road projects. Chirchir explained that the current average annual budget ceiling for road development is Sh55 billion, which would result in a 15-year timeline to finish the ongoing projects.

Responding to senators’ inquiries about the delays in road construction, the CS stated that the limited annual budget leads to a thin distribution of funds across various projects. He emphasized the importance of maintaining and preserving the country's vast road infrastructure, which has been built gradually over the years.

Chirchir also informed the Senate that the Road Maintenance Levy Fund, established in 1993, has been periodically adjusted to meet the country’s needs, with the most recent change in 2016 setting the fuel levy at Sh18 per litre. Despite legal challenges against the levy increases, the CS advocated for raising the levy as a feasible solution to accelerate the completion of road projects.