TOWARDS MAKING ROADS ACCESSIBLE AND USER FRIENDLY TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

1. TOWARDS MAKING ROADS ACCESSIBLE AND USER FRIENDLY TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ENG. M.S.M. KAMAU, CBS, HSC PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF ROADS

2. CONTENTS The national road network Progress in mainstreaming disability Measures taken in implementing the provisions for access Public response to adjustment orders and tax exemption Gaps and challenges in implementation of the act Access needs for the elderly and children Strategies for enhancing implementation of the Act

3. PART 1 – THE NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK AND CURRENT ROAD MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

4. Kenya’s road network is about 160,882 km total length of which 11,193 km is paved. 4

5. 15m 100,000,000 + people in Kenya, Uganda, Eastern DRC, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Northern Tanzania depend on Kenya’s roads for maritime access 10m 32m 40m 9m 8m Mombasa

6. STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF ROADS

7. FUNCTIONS IN THE ROADS SECTOR MOR HQ Policy formulation, standards, coordination, liaison KENHA: To manage national roads (14,293km) KERRA: To manage rural and small town roads (130,000km) KURA: To manage roads in cities and municipalities (12,500km) KWS: To manage roads in national parks (4,500km) KRB: To manage Road Maintenance Levy Fund

8. FUNCTIONS IN THE ROADS SECTOR ROADS DEPT Support to Roads Secretary in policy matters, coordination, standards MATERIALS TESTING AND RESEARCH DEPT Testing and research services KENYA INST OF HIGHWAYS & BUILDING TECH Human resource capacity building, training for roads sector CHIEF MECHANICAL AND TRANSPORT ENGINEER Provision of equipment on hire terms to authorities and others

9. POLICY FOR THE ROADS SECTOR • Vision 2030 is the development blueprint that aims to transform Kenya into a newly industrialized country providing a high quality of life to its citizens. • Vision 2030 aspires for a country interconnected by a network of roads, railways, ports, airports and telecommunications such that no region can be referred to as “remote” • Vision 2030 anticipates measures to attain improved livelihoods for all vulnerable groups • MOR is at the forefront of delivering the transport infrastructure component of Vision 2030

10. SECTOR SPECIFIC POLICY FOR ROADS • Policy for the roads sector is laid out in Sessional Paper No 5 of 2006 on the Development and Management of the Roads Sector for Sustainable Economic Growth. • This document specifically states that the Government will update the technical standards for roads to include the needs of special interest groups such as disabled persons and will follow through to implementation. • The updating of the technical standards is in progress.

11. PART 2 – PROGRESS IN MAINSTREAMING DISABILITY

12. PROGRESS IN MAINSTREAMING DISABILITY • Disability issues have been incorporated into the core policy and management documents for institutions in the roads sector including: • The guiding policy document for the roads subsector, Sessional Paper No 5 of 2006 on the Development and Management of Roads for Sustainable Economic Growth • the Strategic Plans • Customer Service Charters • Performance Contracts

13. PART 3 – MEASURES TAKEN IN IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS FOR ACCESS

14. MEASURES TAKEN IN IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS FOR ACCESS • On road sections whose cross section includes raised kerbs or traffic islands, kerb cuts and sloped ramps are installed at crossing points • For new overhead pedestrian bridges such as Thika Road, access ramps with relatively gentle slopes are being installed to facilitate movement by wheeled devices and persons for whom stairs are not appropriate • On all new roads or roads for which rehabilitation is being undertaken, shoulders are being widened and bitumenisedunlike the earlier practice of having unpaved shoulders. The sealed shoulders can accommodate wheeled devices and are in general much easier to use. • The Ministry is aware of the provisions of subsidiary legislation in the Act which requires provision of audible signals at traffic lights and is working towards attaining this.

15. PART 4 – PUBLIC RESPONSE TO ADJUSTMENT ORDERS AND TAX EXEMPTION

16. POSSIBLE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO REALISATION OF ADJUSTMENT ORDERS AND TAX EXEMPTIONS • The probable response to an adjustment order issued under the Act would be fully supportive in principle by the institutions concerned. However where financial implications are involved, budget procedures and workplan preparation procedures need to be invoked and substantiated to the approving authorities. These may take time. • The probable response to tax exemption procedures would also be supportive. However as with any other tax exemption, the possibility of improper usage by unqualified individuals exists and sound administrative strategies are needed without being so restrictive and bureaucratic as to deny and inconvenience the intended beneficiaries.

17. PART 5 – GAPS AND CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT

18. GAPS AND CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT Two sections of the Act read as follows: Public buildings. 22. (1) A proprietor of a public building shall adapt it to suit persons with disabilities in such manner as may be specified by the Council.  (2) All proprietors of public buildings shall comply with subsection(1) within five years after this section comes into operation. Public service vehicles. 23. (1) An operator of a public service vehicle shall adapt it to suit persons with disabilities in such manner as may be specified by the Council.  (2) All operators of public service vehicles shall comply with subsection (1)within two years after this section comes into operation. It is unclear if the Council has been able to obtain access to the necessary technical capacity to formulate the specifications mentioned above and if these have been codified into manuals and standard specifications which practitioners can implement.

19. PART 6 – ACCESS NEEDS FOR THE ELDERLY, WOMEN AND CHILDREN

20. ACCESS NEEDS FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN • Access needs for the elderly and children largely relate to improvements in facilities and safety arrangements for non-motorised traffic. • The current guidelines for preparation of engineering designs in the roads sector require that the needs of non-motorised traffic be specifically addressed during the design process, particularly in urban areas. These designs are then incorporated into the works requirements. • The roads sector is working on preparing and implementing a national road safety plan whose components will include introducing structured periodic assessments of road safety provisions and performance for all road users and implementing the findings of these audits.

21. PART 7 – STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT

22. STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACT • Strategies for enhancing implementation of the Act could include: • Further development of subsidiary legislation to address the technical specifications alluded to in the main text • Updating the Act to fully incorporate the provisions of the new Constitution and to recognise the imminent existence and responsibilities of the two levels of government stipulated • Working closely with the authorities responsible for other connected Acts of Parliament to ensure that provisions under the Persons With Disabilities Act are reflected, supported and extended in those other Acts

23. GENERAL INFORMATION– SELECTED ROAD SECTOR INITIATIVES (ONGOING AND NEAR FUTURE) • Rehabilitation of the Northern Corridor • Rehabilitation of the Tanzania - Nairobi – Moyale Corridor • Rehabilitation of the Tanzania (Isebania) – South Sudan (Nadapal) Corridor • Nairobi Bypasses • Mombasa Bypass • Nairobi arterial roads expansion • Roads 2000 and improvement of rural roads

24. NEWLY COMPLETED FOOTBRIDGE AT RUIRU

25. A PEDESTRIAN RAMP TO A FOOTBRIDGE AT KENYATTA ROAD PICTURES

26. ACCESS RAMP WITH GENTLE SLOPE AT JUJA

27. A KERB CUT AT JUJA ALONG THIKA ROAD

28. WHAT DOES REHABILITATION OF MAJOR ROADS ENTAIL? Section of A109 before rehabilitation in 2006 (near Mariakani)

29. SECTIONS OF A109 NEAR MOMBASA IN 2005

30. FAILED PAVEMENTS REMOVED AND THE FORMATION WIDENED..

31. NEW HEAVY DUTY PAVEMENTS LAID..

32. THE RECONSTRUCTED PAVEMENTS ARE NOT ONLY STRONGER BUT ALSO WIDER AND WITH SEALED SHOULDERS

33. NEWLY COMPLETED SECTION OF THIKA ROAD BETWEEN MUTHAIGA AND PANGANI

34. NEWLY COMPLETED PANGANI INTERCHANGE

35. THIKA ROAD: STREET LIGHTING TO BE INSTALLED

36. COMPLETED ISIOLO – MERILLE: KM 14

37. THANK YOU