NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s roads could soon undergo a major shift in how they accommodate pedestrians and cyclists after the National Assembly passed legislation seeking to make dedicated facilities for non-motorised transport a requirement on designated roads.
The Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2024, sponsored by Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda, was passed by the National Assembly on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The Bill seeks to amend the Kenya Roads Act and strengthen the provision of infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised transport users.
The proposed changes would require road authorities to factor pedestrian and cycling infrastructure into the design and construction of designated roads, rather than treating such facilities as optional additions.
The move comes amid persistent concerns over road safety in Kenya, where pedestrians and cyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users.
At the centre of the legislation is a requirement for road authorities to incorporate dedicated non-motorised transport facilities when designing and constructing roads under their control.
The facilities would include pedestrian walkways, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and cycling lanes.
The Bill also provides clearer definitions for terms such as “cycling lane,” “pedestrian walkway” and “non-motorised vehicles”, establishing a legal framework for the infrastructure.
A pedestrian walkway would be reserved for people travelling on foot and physically separated from lanes used by motor vehicles. Cycling tracks would similarly provide designated space for cyclists away from motorised traffic.
The legislation seeks to change the way road projects are planned, ensuring that pedestrians and cyclists receive dedicated road space alongside motorists.
If the Bill becomes law, three major road authorities will have an expanded responsibility to provide infrastructure for non-motorised transport. These are the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA).
The authorities would have to incorporate dedicated facilities into roads under their respective jurisdictions.
The legislation aims to ensure that non-motorised transport infrastructure becomes part of road design and construction rather than an afterthought.
That could have a significant impact on future road projects across Kenya, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas where pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and public transport operators compete for limited road space.
Pedestrians and cyclists remain particularly exposed to road crashes because they have little physical protection when they come into contact with motor vehicles.
Kenya’s expanding towns and cities have also increased pressure on existing roads, with growing numbers of people walking or cycling to work, markets, schools and public transport stops.
The new legislation seeks to reduce conflicts between motorists and non-motorised road users by physically separating them.
The proposed changes would also give the police a stronger role in protecting dedicated pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. Traffic enforcement officers would be expected to ensure that motorists do not misuse facilities reserved for non-motorised transport users.
This would address a common problem on Kenyan roads where vehicles, motorcycles and other road users sometimes occupy pedestrian spaces, forcing people walking or cycling onto busy carriageways.
The legislation seeks to establish clearer rules around the use of these facilities and strengthen enforcement. The objective is not simply to construct walkways and cycling lanes but also to ensure that they remain available to the people they were designed to serve.
The proposed infrastructure would also need to accommodate people living with disabilities. The parliamentary proposals define non-motorised transport broadly enough to include mobility assistance devices, while the proposed road infrastructure would provide safer and more accessible movement for different categories of users.
Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda sponsored the Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which is listed as National Assembly Bill No. 31 of 2024.
Parliamentary records show that the Bill was published in 2024 and received its First Reading on June 19, 2024. Its Second Reading followed in July and August 2025, before progressing through the legislative process.
The passage of the Bill marks a significant step in the push to give non-motorised transport a clearer place within Kenya’s road-planning framework.
Although the National Assembly has passed the Bill, it is important to distinguish parliamentary passage from the Bill becoming law.
The legislation must proceed through the remaining constitutional process, including presidential assent, before it can become an Act of Parliament. It would then need to commence according to the provisions of the enacted law.
