Evaluation of Roads 2000 Program in Kenya

Abstract

The low volume approach of road improvement guarantees optimum utilization of locally available resources where technically and economically feasible. Low volume roads in Kenya are distributed in rural and peri-urban networks and low-population areas, and are under the jurisdiction of local road authorities and county governments, who have funding constraints, and therefore optimal serviceability on the roads is not well maintained. This study was aimed at investigating the maintenance levels on low volume sealed roads, and come up with recommendations to be adopted on the current and similar problems in the future. Performance assessment was undertaken by carrying out surface condition surveys on sampled roads under the Roads 2000 program. It was determined that the priority for maintenance of completed low volume roads was normally affected by the surrounding poor network, and therefore, adequate maintenance was not routine. Review of performance of the low volume roads showed that whereas the improved roads were having great impact on the recipient populace, the lack of adequate maintenance was in most cases leading to early failure of the completed roads, and inadequate drainage was a leading factor in the uncontrolled deterioration of these roads. The study noted low serviceability index of below 2.5 on some roads, noting that rehabilitation was required, and timely corrective work was required on all roads. With proper and all-round conditional assessments, followed by timely, suitable and efficient maintenance regimes, the roads were expected to meet their design lives and continue serving the population in these regions.