President Ruto Caught in Battle Over Road Maintenance Levy Billions

President William Ruto
President William Ruto during the New Year Message to Kenyans at the Kisii State Lodge, December 31, 2024.
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William Ruto

President William Ruto has been called in to mediate an ongoing dispute between governors and Members of Parliament over the collection of the road maintenance levy funds (RMLF).

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njoki stressed that Ruto should act as a mediator in the dispute that he termed a threat to devolution.

While speaking during a funeral service, Njuki noted that the standoff that has been ongoing for two years has led to counties facing a cash crunch, resulting in the stalling of many road construction projects in counties. 

“We have been fighting over resources that have resulted in problems for our people. An example is in roads. Many projects have stalled, and we need to follow the law. I want to call upon the President to come in and mediate this tussle between us (governors) and the MPs,” Njuki stated.

An image of the Council of Governors at a past presser
An image of the Council of Governors at a past presser
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Njuki stated that the dispute between the two factions arose after MPs diverted funds collected through the RMLF from the Kenya Roads Board (KRB) to the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). 

In Kenya, the allocation of road maintenance levy funds is meant for the construction of roads and is undertaken by the Kenya Roads Board. The Board directly disburses the funds to counties but allocates funds meant for constituencies to the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), who in turn do the disbursement.

“MPs went on to block the allocation of county funds through KRB. They demanded that all the money go to the constituencies. They said that counties should use their own revenue funds. This is despite the fact that since the advent of devolution, counties have always received funds from the levy through KRB,” Njuki asserted.

According to Njuki, the aftermath of the move by the MPs resulted in a court case that resulted in funds meant to go to counties for road construction lying idle in the bank. The two leadership factions have since been in the legal battle for two years.

Njuki called for an end to the dispute, stressing the need to consider the bigger picture, which is the development of roads in counties.

“Since then, road construction projects have stalled all because of that court case. These are unnecessary wars. Two years have passed by without road development projects happening. We are hoping that the National Assembly and Council of Governors come together to fix it,” Njuki expressed.

Njuki further went on to recommend that the two parties resolve to provide funding according to the progress and magnitude of a road construction project. Njuki argued that this would also prevent funds from going to areas where there was no track record of development. 

The Road Maintenance Levy Fund is an essential source of funding for road maintenance and development across the nation. It was established in 1993 as an act of parliament to ensure the conditions of roads countrywide are in a good state. At the heart of the dispute is Ksh10.5 billion, which constitutes the road maintenance levy fund.

MPs in Parliament during the Budget 2024 reading.
MPs in Parliament during the Budget 2024 reading.
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Parliament
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