President William Ruto is calling for a shift in how road development funds are managed, proposing that control of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) be placed under the national executive to streamline delivery and reduce project delays.
Addressing a congregation in Narok County on Sunday, Ruto said the current model of distributing the fund across multiple agencies and counties has resulted in limited progress, with roads often left incomplete or washed away by seasonal rains. He appealed to lawmakers to support a new approach that would give the presidency direct oversight of the fund.
“If you leave it to me I can gather funds enough to build all roads,” Ruto said. “Because the money you distribute allows you to build only a small portion and then it is destroyed by rains. So I urge you to allow me to plan for that money in the way it can benefit Kenyans more than how it is currently being utilised.”
The president argued that a centralized system would not only improve coordination but also allow the government to prioritize critical infrastructure and ensure maintenance funding is used more strategically.
He pointed to recent progress on delayed projects, revealing that the government has already paid out approximately Ksh.60 billion to settle pending road works. “Many Kenyans need roads but there are limited resources,” Ruto added. “We have adopted various strategies to find the resources, we have slightly succeeded.”
His remarks are likely to stir fresh debate among legislators, many of whom have pushed to retain localized control over the RMLF for regional development. However, Ruto insists that consolidating the fund’s management will ultimately ensure better outcomes for the entire country.
