Rural areas in Kenya are productive and have many socio-economic activities based on agriculture, horticulture, livestock, wildlife and fishing. They hold more than 65 per cent of Kenya’s population, 98 per cent of which do not own vehicles.

More than 85 per cent of mobility in rural areas in Kenya takes place off the road (on tracks and paths) between homes and farms, markets, rivers, meeting grounds, schools, dispensaries, churches and local administration offices.

The journeys facilitate the supply of inputs and enable the supply of produce to urban areas. Ideally, inter-urban passenger and freight transport serve rural transport needs. However, there are peculiar access-related needs in rural areas that must be addressed. To enhance passenger transport services, the Government will:

v  Work with the relevant sectors and communities to establish schools, health centres, water and energy supply as close to the population as possible

v  Plan rural development and other social and economic land use programmes with transport needs in mind

v  Promote non-motorised transport to ferry passengers where motorised vehicles are insufficient

v  Boost the use of water transport along

v  Evaluate how public-private partnerships can be developed to offer low-cost transport services