Lesuuda faults road infrastructure for excluding majority of Kenyans
By Faith Lagat, July 31, 2025Samburu MP Naisula Lesuuda has called out the country’s road infrastructure for perpetuating systemic injustice by excluding the majority of Kenyans, particularly those who walk or use non-motorised transport.
Speaking during the second reading of the Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 31 of 2024), Lesuuda said the legislation is rooted in justice, dignity, and safety for all road users.
“Today, I rise to sponsor the Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill… At its core, it is about justice, dignity, and safety on our roads,” she said in her address to the House. Lesuuda criticised the current road design approach, especially in urban and peri-urban areas, for favouring vehicles at the expense of the majority who move on foot.
“Our roads are built for motorised vehicles, as if only those with or in cars deserve to move safely. As if dignity, safety, and access are luxuries,” she said. Lesuuda emphasised that millions of Kenyans, especially school children, are forced to navigate unsafe roads every day simply because they do not drive. “But what happens to the millions of Kenyans, the real majority—our children who walk every day to school?”
Car-centric planning
The proposed amendment seeks to make it mandatory for all new roads and major rehabilitation projects to incorporate designated spaces for pedestrians and cyclists.
“This bill seeks to make it mandatory that all new roads and any roads that are undergoing major repairs or upgrades must include safe, accessible, and designated infrastructure for non-motorised transport,” she explained.
Lesuuda’s push is supported by data from the World Health Organisation’s 2023 Global Status Report on Road Safety, which found that pedestrians account for 48% of all road fatalities in Kenya. A 2019 World Bank study also indicated that over 70% of Kenyans rely on walking or cycling for daily movement—figures that underline the urgency of her proposal.
Support
Her concerns were echoed by Emurua Dikirr MP Hon. Julius Sunkuli, who said the lack of safe road infrastructure continues to put lives at risk. “Our roads are very risky. I think this is one of the very few countries where before you go anywhere, you must pray,” he remarked.
Lesuuda, known for her advocacy on women’s and children’s rights, linked road safety to broader issues of equity and social justice. As debate on the bill continues, its passage could mark a turning point in Kenya’s transport policy, putting people—not just vehicles—at the centre of urban planning.