Kenya rural roads project : a study of the roads gravelling portion of the rural roads systems project

Special evaluation covers the period 8/79-6/81 and is based on site visits, interviews with USAID/K and Government of Kenya (GOK) personnel, and a review of project documents and reports. GOK units have built or repaired only 6-9 of a targeted 30-35 km/unit/month. This shortfall has been attributed to high equipment deadline rates, poorer than expected road conditions, unexpectedly high reconstruction standards imposed by the Provincial Engineer, and suboptimal equipment mix. Key recommendations among the 26 provided are as follows: (1) GOK and USAID/K should reaffirm the project's unique (for Kenya) cost-benefit perspective, according to which only roads with an average daily traffic over 70 warrant more than spot construction (which should thus outnumber full construction three to one) and should test the project as originally conceived for one year, protecting workers from the expected backlash of local officials. (2) Studies should be conducted to determine each road's needs in reaching AWS and a work program should be prepared based on the studies' results. (3) Supervisors should receive monthly work schedules and keep daily records of their units' output, reviewing them each month to identify areas of project weakness or unreasonable programming. (4) A senior civil servant should be assigned to each GBC unit to free engineers and consultants from all administrative duties. (5) A project manager should have overall responsibility for GBC units. (6) The road inventory should be updated and include a definition of the roads not currently in AWS. (7) A.I.D. should perform a routine audit of this project as soon as possible. (8) More attention must be given to the sizing and installation of culverts which must be installed in the dry. (9) Ministry of Works construction should be limited to a road at a time; extra personnel should build drainage facilities for spot improvements. (10) Because the project is still training personnel and testing methods, production goals should be modest while training and testing should be emphasized. (11) A.I.D. and the GOK should hold quarterly evaluation meetings.