Kenya Roads Board was established in 1999 to manage the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) and coordinate rehabilitation, maintenance and development. It is the principal adviser to the Government on road matters. The Board assigns the management of roads to designated agencies.

The Kenya Roads Board Act designates the following road agencies: District Roads Committees and the Kenya Wildlife Service. The Act was amended in 2003 to include a city or municipality council with institutional and technical capacity. In recognition that local government plays a key role in infrastructure development, the Board approved the designation of the following sub-agencies: Urban Development Department of the Ministry of Local Government. It is responsible for public streets under the jurisdiction of local authorities except Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru

The Nairobi City Council and Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret municipalities are responsible for public streets in their jurisdiction. From 2003, key milestones have been achieved. RMLF collections have grown from Sh8 billion ($106.6 million) to Sh 18 billion ($240 million) a year. This was partly due to effective revenue collection by the Kenya Revenue Authority and the adjustment of the RMLF charge. Through KRB lobbying, the RMLF charge was adjusted from Sh5.80 ($0.07) to Sh9 ($0.11) a litre of petrol and diesel in June 2006. Transit toll collections have also grown from Sh200 million ($2.5 mil-lion) to Sh300 million ($3.75 million) a year in 2009. The collections are now channeled through KRB.

Coffee cess has been used for road maintenance, with collections rising to Sh40 million in the 2008-2009 financial year. Other sources, mainly interest on funds not immediately usable for road works, have yielded Sh95 million ($1.18 million). KRB will pursue other agricultural cess (tea, horticulture and sugar) and other sources of funds.

The period the funds from KRB should reach road agencies at the districts has reduced from three months to 15 days.

The board coordinates the implementation of policies on the development, rehabilitation and maintenance of the road network. KRB facilitated the Joint Reforms Steering Committee out of which the Kenya Roads Act, 2007 was enacted.

The board commissioned a Road Inventory and Condition Survey Consultancy for the road network. The data is vital for planning. A road reclassification study was done so that all roads are reclassified according to KRB rules, regulations, procedures and guidelines for use by road agencies.

Kenya National Highway Authority  core functions are to construct, upgrade, rehabilitate and maintain Class A, B, C roads, implement road policies on national roads and ensure adherence to guidelines on axle load control in the Traffic Act. Its other roles are to ensure that the quality of roads is in accordance with defined standards and to collect data on use of national roads.

Kenya Rural Roads Authority is responsible for the management, development and rehabilitation, of rural roads (D, E, F, G, K, L, P, R, S, T, U and W). Its role is to construct, upgrade, rehabilitate and maintain rural roads and control reserves for rural roads and access to road-side developments. It also implements road policies in relation to rural roads.

• Ensure that motorists adhere to guidelines on axle load control
• Ensure that the quality of road is in accordance with standards defined by the Ministry
• In collaboration with the Transport ministry and the police, KeRRA oversees the management of traffic on rural roads and road safety.
• Collect data on use of rural roads
• Monitor the use of rural roads
• Plan the development and maintenance of rural roads
• Prepare road work programmes for rural roads

Kenya Urban Roads Authority is responsible for planning, design and implementation of road projects in urban areas, comprising the City Council and municipalities. It has 10 regions: Coast, Upper Eastern, Lower Eastern, Nairobi, Central, North Rift Valley, South Rift Valley, North-Eastern, Western and Nyanza.

Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology offers higher diploma courses in highway, building, civil, electrical, electronic, mechanical and structural engineering and building economics. Diploma courses are in land survey, computer studies, architecture and quantity survey, while certificate studies are in road construction, electrical installation, vehicle mechanics, plumbing, pipe fitting refrigeration and air conditioning, among others.

The main campus of is on Commercial Street in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. It has campuses at Kibiku, Ngong, and the Kisii Training Centre.

The Government supervises the corporation through the Ministry of Transport. Kenya Railways continues to play its role as provided for in the law and the concession agreement. Its revised mandate includes the management of the concession and non-conceded assets, promotion, facilitation and participation in national and metropolitan railway development, the development and management of inland waterways and the Railway Training Institute in Nairobi. (www. krc.co.ke)

KAA’s functions are to:

• Administer, control and manage aerodrome
• Provide and maintain facilities
• Provide rescue and fire fighting equipment and services
• Construct, operate and maintain aerodromes and other related activities
• Build or maintain aerodromes on an agency basis on the request of any Government department
• Provide other facilities for passengers and other people using KAA services
• Approve the establishment of private air-strips and control of operations.

Prior to its formation, the Aerodromes Department under the Ministry of Transport handled this responsibility. For security at airports, KAA issues two types of passes: Permanent and temporary security passes. Application for permanent security passes is done at KAA headquarters.

Temporary security passes are given to people who want to access restricted areas in airports and are issued at the discretion of the managing director, general manager security or airport manager. Valid reasons with documentary evidence must be given when applying for a security pass. Temporary ones are issued at the Security office at the international Arrivals JKIA. A Sh 2,000($25) fee is charged for each security pass a day.

Identity card, passport and driving licence are left at the security office before security passes are issued.

Staffs at the country’s airports are required to go through security checks when they report on duty or access restricted areas

• Entrance and exits to and from restricted areas are through staff gates
• Before entering the restricted area, staffs remove any items carried and they are passed through the X-ray machine
• Staffs go through metal detectors.

No yellow fever vaccination certificates are required of travellers from East African Community partner states, Europe, Asia, North America, North and South Africa

No cholera vaccination certificates required of travellers from all over the world.

But yellow fever vaccination certificates are required of all travellers more than a year old arriving from yellow fever-infected countries mainly in Central and West Africa, south and Central America, South east Asia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Vaccinations for international travellers are obtainable from international air and sea ports, city and major municipal councils

NB: Yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after vaccination.

The following may be carried in your hand luggage if they are stored in containers up to 100mls and in a transparent resealable plastic bag. The capacity of the transparent plastic bag must not be greater than one litre.

Liquids, gels and aerosols are:

• Water and other drinks.
• Syrups
• Creams, lotions and oils
• Perfumes and sprays
• Gels — hair and shower
• Pressurized containers such as shaving foam and deodorants
• Pastes, including Vaseline and eye shadow
• Other items with similar consistency
• The following are allowed in hand luggage:
• Medicine needed during the flight
• Baby food needed during the flight

You may buy liquids beyond security checkpoints, including duty-free items or in-flight. Items bought must be packed in security tamper-evident bags and accompanied by proof of purchase at the security checkpoint.

In 2008, Kenya Airways – KQ won the COYA (Company of the Year) top awards for strategic planning and emergency preparedness as well. Travel News & Lifestyle magazine, a Kenyan publication, voted Kenya Airways the African Airline of Choice and Best Regional Airline. Kenya’s Airways Flying Blue was also voted the best frequent flier programme and Msafiri the best in-flight magazine.

In 2007, Kenya Airways was awarded a two-year renewal on its IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) registration. It joined Sky-Team as an Associate Airline. In 2006, it was voted East Africa’s Most Respected Company for the second year running and won the prestigious African Aviation Award from the African Aviation Magazine, a UK publication. It had scooped the same award in 2005, 2003, 2000 and 1999. In 2005, the airline achieved the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit), becoming the first carrier in sub-Saharan to get the rigorous safety certification. In 2004, Travel News & Lifestyle Magazine ranked Kenya Airways the Best Domestic Airline in 2003, Best Regional Airline in 2002 and 2003 and with the Best In-flight Magazine in 2002 and 2003.

In 2003, it was voted the Best User of information technology in Kenya by the Computer Society of Kenya. It was also ranked second in the award for the Most Respected Company by East Africa business leaders.

In 2003, the airline acquired 49 per cent shareholding in Precision Air, a Tanzanian carrier. The airline has bought Boeing 777, 767, 737aircraft for domestic and African regional services. It has launched new routes to many parts of Africa and the world —Monrovia, Cotonou and Mayotte, Istanbul (Turkey) Bamako (Mali) and Dakar (Senegal) and Lubumbashi (DRC), among others.

Kenya Airways has opened a leadership centre — Pride Centre — for the training of staff. It also has a Flying Blue Service Centre. The airline has a ticketing office at the Village Market, Nairobi

In 1986, the Government made the first move towards Kenya Airways privatisation with the publication of the Sessional Paper No 1 on ‘Economic Management for Renewed Growth.’ The document spelt out, for the first time, the Government’s intention to divest from corporations, which the private sector could run better.

In 1991, a new board was formed with the mandate to commercialize and prepare the airlne for privatization. The commercialization process produced the first profits in 1992. In 1995, a Shareholders’ Agreement and a Master Cooperation Agreement with KLM were concluded. A memorandum was sent to 154 airlines in search of ‘strategic partner’ culminating in the selection of KLM.

Since then, Kenya Airways has never looked back. The airline provides customer satisfaction and upholds the highest level of safety and security. It is the most dominant Airline in Africa and offers world-class standards in service delivery, product quality and operational performance.

It has invested in world-class information gathering capacity, analysis and interpretation to facilitate faster business decision-making. Kenya Airways has boosted its ability for rapid response to opportunities, threats and challenges. Between 2010 and 2020, the airline plans to have notable presence in Asia, Europe and America and operate a modern fleet of 30 to 40 aircraft. It has forged strong partnerships and is a respected member of the global airline community.

Kenya Airways focuses on profitable network expansion through direct access and alliances with other carriers. Sustainable improvement in yield will be pursued through new revenue management systems and better discipline. Management will also place emphasis on greater productivity, cost restraints and reduction in wastage.

It aims to broaden and modernise the institutional and legal frame-work for maritime safety, security and preservation of the marine environment National maritime legislation is one of the primary tools for attaining international standards in safety and security and the preservation of the marine environment.

The establishment of KMA marked a milestone in Kenya’s maritime industry. It was established to regulate, coordinate and oversee activities in line with national standards and international conventions.

It regulates and coordinates maritime affairs, ensures safety of lives, security of ships and port facilities and protection of the marine environment in compliance with national and international conventions. Only through such regulations can the Government enforce conventions, especially those from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The regulations are relevant for maritime safety, security and marine environment programmes. A relevant development for KMA is the Government’s decision to involve the private sector in the operations of the port. This will enhance the development of a vibrant shipping industry and help the Government achieve its objectives. The laws that guide the operations of Kenya Maritime Authority are the KMA Act 2006 and the Merchant Shipping Act, 2009.