Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has proposed a significant increase in funding for the country’s transport infrastructure, setting aside Sh217.3 billion for road development in the 2025/26 financial year. While presenting the national budget to Parliament, Mbadi said the investment is aimed at easing travel, lowering logistics costs, and improving market access across the country.
The proposal allocates Sh115.6 billion for road maintenance, Sh70.8 billion for rehabilitation, and Sh30.9 billion for construction of new roads and bridges. This marks an improvement from last year’s Sh193.4 billion, which was spread across construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance activities.
Beyond roads, the Treasury has earmarked major funding for other transport sectors:
Sh37.1 billion for rail transport and infrastructure
Sh600 million for the Kenya Ferry Services ramp in Mombasa and new ferries for Lake Victoria
Sh300 million for the Nairobi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project
Sh300 million for construction and expansion of airstrips
Sh300 million for promotion of e-mobility
The government also plans to increase investment in clean and reliable energy, allocating Sh62.8 billion for grid expansion, rural electrification, geothermal development, and alternative energy technologies. Mbadi said the shift toward renewables and electric mobility is central to reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency.
The transport and energy sectors had received slightly higher allocations in the previous year, but Treasury maintains that the new budget aligns with ongoing infrastructure priorities and emerging national needs.