Sifuna: Why KURA and KeRRA 'must go' to strengthen devolution

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called for the disbanding of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), as the battle over the control of the multibillion-shilling Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) rages.

Sifuna, speaking on Spice FM on Thursday, April 24, argued that under current law, all roads in Kenya are classified as either national or county roads, falling under the jurisdiction of the national or county governments.

As such, he said, KURA and KeRRA no longer have a clear constitutional mandate.

“At the time these agencies were crafted, we had a unitary system. We didn’t have the new constitution. In the current constitutional dispensation, we don’t need KURA and KeRRA,” said Sifuna.

“There are only two categories of roads: the national and county roads. So, KeRRA has no business existing. Let those roads classified as county roads be managed by county governments. KURA also need not exist at the moment,” he added.

His remarks come amid a standoff between counties and Members of the National Assembly over who should control funds collected through the fuel levy, intended for road maintenance.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Omtatah, eight others file fresh suit over Ruto's 'odious' debts
• 
  Raila, Ruto men clash over roads rehabilitation billions
• 
  Nyong'o tells Ruto to keep off road fund, defends devolution
• 
  Governor urges MPs to let counties control roads levy fund

Currently, the government deducts Sh25 per litre of petrol or diesel at the pump.

The Kenya Roads Board (KRB) distributes the proceeds among KURA, KeRRA, and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).

The government aims to raise Sh115 billion from the fuel levy in the 2024/2025 financial year, a sum now at the heart of the dispute.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by Raila Odinga, has backed county governments, urging ODM lawmakers to stick to their constitutional roles of legislation, oversight, and representation.

Meanwhile, President William Ruto wants road construction and maintenance functions and the associated funds centralised under the national government.

“We have not had the President defending devolution. In fact, he is an enemy of devolution for asking for the fund to be left to him, which is not what the constitution says,” said Sifuna, adding, “He has national roads to deal with, but has not delivered. He should let the governors handle county roads as required by the constitution.”

The Nairobi Senator also warned that MPs have no legal basis to implement road projects, cautioning that such efforts risk being nullified, as was the case with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund, which the courts declared unconstitutional