MPs push for unified address system to fix Kenya’s road chaos
By Faith Lagat, April 23, 2026Lawmakers are intensifying efforts to pass the National Addressing Bill, 2025, in a bid to bring order to Kenya’s road and location identification system.
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, chaired by Baringo Woman Representative Florence Jematiah, held a session on April 23, 2026, pressing government officials on the need for a standardised national addressing framework.
Principal Secretary in the State Department for Roads, Joseph Mbugua, backed the Bill, describing it as a step towards improving infrastructure, service delivery, and economic activity.
“A reliable and accurate addressing system is not just about navigation. It is about saving lives, enabling business, and ensuring no Kenyan is left out of essential services,” he told the committee.
Service delivery and economic growth
Mbugua said the system is expected to support e-commerce, improve emergency response, and strengthen disaster management.
The government has already constituted a multi-sectoral committee of 16 public and private institutions to develop the policy, legislative structures, and standards, which are under review at the ICT Ministry.
Under the proposed plan, the Communications Authority of Kenya would oversee implementation, avoiding the creation of new institutions.
The system will introduce a uniform national format incorporating the recipient’s name, street details, locality, county, postcode, and other identifiers to ensure each location has a unique and verifiable address.
Delays and safety concerns
Members of Parliament questioned delays in rolling out the system. Nandi Hills MP Bernard Kitur raised concerns over the pace, while Kisumu Central MP Shakir Shabir said road identification should have been prioritised earlier.
Kajiado East MP Kakuta Maimai asked: “If this Bill becomes law today, are we ready? Many of us still get lost despite using technology like Google Maps.”
The committee also discussed road safety, with Chair Jematiah calling for renewed public awareness campaigns. Proposals were made to direct traffic fines towards maintenance and safety programmes.
Discussions extended to urban congestion, with updates on a 500-kilometre road development plan covering Bomas–Rongai, Bomas–Karen, and Kitengela.
Mbugua said implementation would require coordination between national and county governments, with counties managing local road coding.
“This is not just a road issue. It cuts across sectors. When a letter is addressed, it should reach the doorstep without confusion,” he said. The committee is expected to continue receiving submissions before tabling its report on the Bill.