Counties not ready to manage highways, says senator

Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi (left) addresses the media after a meeting with Kiambu County ex-councillors at Kiambu Senior Members Club, Kiambu town. Senator Wamatangi on January 1, 2016 said the transfer of roads management to counties would lead to problems as most county governments cannot effectively manage Class A, B and C roads. PHOTO | ERIC WAINAINA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Wamatangi gave an example of the recent destruction by El Niño rains, which county governments were unable to address despite declaring they were prepared. 

A ruling by the High Court this week that the national government fully transfers the roads’ function in 90 days to counties continues to elicit reactions.

Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi said the transfer would lead to problems as most county governments cannot effectively manage Class A, B and C roads.

The roads have been under Kenya Urban Roads Authority and Kenya Rural Roads Authority, but governors have been fighting to have them transferred while the Senate has held the view that counties are not ready to take them over.

“Some of the county governments are not even able to handle county roads and if we were to transfer the national roads, which are too demanding, we will be sending this country to the dogs just like we have witnessed with health sector,” Mr Wamatangi said Friday.

Most counties, he said, have shown high levels of unpreparedness in handling most functions already devolved, thus, cannot be trusted with the national roads, which are a key pillar of the economy. 

Mr Wamatangi gave an example of the recent destruction by El Niño rains, which county governments were unable to address despite declaring they were prepared. 

The senator said counties must first be evaluated to test their ability to manage roads, and then a workable formula to guide the implementation of the transition put in place.

In her ruling, Justice Mumbi Ngugi gave the Attorney General 90 days to gazette the transfer of the roads.

She noted the country risks delaying devolution on grounds that the counties lack the capacity to take over devolved functions, including the one on roads.