Who maintains roads: the county or the national government?
Constitution of Kenya 2010 · sources read 2 Oct 2026
The national government builds and runs national trunk roads (through KeNHA), controls road traffic, and sets standards for how counties build and maintain other roads. County governments look after county roads, street lighting, traffic and parking, and public road transport.
- Where
- County roads, street lights and parking: your county government. National trunk roads: KeNHA (0800211244)
Steps
- For a county road, street light, parking or matatu stage problem, go to your county's roads or transport department.
- For a national trunk road (Class S, A or B highway), the responsible body is the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
- Reach KeNHA on the toll-free line 0800211244 or email complaints@kenha.co.ke.
Watch out
- Even for county roads, the national government sets the construction and maintenance standards, and road traffic rules are national.
- Any function not given to counties by the Constitution or a national law stays with the national government.
- The two levels can agree to transfer a function from one to the other, so who does the work on a road can differ from the default.
Who this covers
- Applies across Kenya: the Constitution's Fourth Schedule splits road duties between the national government and the county governments.
Official sources (2)
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 new.kenyalaw.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Who We Are kenha.co.ke · read 2 Oct 2026