The government will spend sh3.8 billion this financial year to maintain rural road network in the country and counter the effects of the expected El nino rains on feeder roads.

The chairman Board of Directors of Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KRRA), Eng. Protas Murunga said the funds were 20% of the sh19 billion collected by the Kenya roads Board.

Eng. Murunga said the authority will spend the funds in servicing and maintaining 170,000 kilometres of the rural roads adding that measures were in place to ensure the maintenance work commences in every constituency.

He, however, acknowledged that one of the major challenges facing the newly inaugurated authority was human resource capacity, adding that absorption of the old roads ministry staff was in progress with senior staff including regional managers having been posted.

Eng. Murunga said the authority will partner with other stakeholders who have been contributing cess, CDF and other local funds to ensure the roads are maintained for accessibility during rainy season.

The chairman who was accompanied by the KRRA Director general Eng. Mwangi Maingi and other directors was on a familiarization tour of the rural roads in Nakuru district which covers Molo, Nakuru North, Rongai and Njoro districts.

He said the authority will spend sh180 million to maintain roads networks in the five districts including Nakuru- Elementaita -Mau/Narok road which have in the past handled large traffic and served many farmers around Mau.