While travelling on Kenyan roads, you are likely to notice that tarmac roads are marked either A, B, C, D or E.
The naming is done by Kenya Roads Board and the classification is dependent on the importance and size of the road.
Class A roads otherwise known as International Trunk Roads are main highways that serve as a link between centres of international importance, crossing international boundaries or terminating at international ports.
Examples of Class A roads in Kenya include; Nairobi – Mombasa Road, Nairobi – Malaba – Uganda Road, Isebania – Kisii – Ahero Road, and Arusha – Holili – Taveta – Voi Road.
Under Class B, Kenya Roads Board lists roads that link nationally important centres, principal towns or urban centres.
Class B roads are alternatively referred to as National Trunk Roads and Nairobi only has one such road: Nyayo Roundabout to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Other Class B roads in the country include; Kericho – Kisumu Road and Mai Mahiu – Sotik Road.
Class C roads link provincially important centres to each other or higher class roads and are referred to as primary roads.
Examples of Class C roads include; Kangundo Road, Outering Road, and Lang'ata Road.
On the other hand, Class D roads link locally important centres to each other, a more important centre, or a higher-class road.
They are commonly referred to as secondary roads and some notable examples include; Westlands — Nyari Estate, Ruaka — Muchatha, and Kasarani — Mwiki roads.
Nairobi has its set of Class C roads known as Nairobi City County roads which include among others; Kimathi Road, Ngara Road, Luthuli Avenue and James Gichuru Road.
Finally, Class E roads are any roads that link to a minor centre, market or local centre. They are usually found in rural areas in Kenya and are maintained by Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRa).
