Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has made recent significant strides in road safety supported by AiRAP AssetMapper assessments and a prioritized programme to train and accredit iRAP practitioners.

Kenya’s 2024-2028 Road Safety Action Plan includes iRAP indicators for road infrastructure safety.  The Plan outlines for iRAP assessments to be undertaken of Class A, B and C paved roads, and major urban road networks in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru, to identify high-risk road sections.

A major recent milestone has been the completion of a 676 km iRAP assessment of Kenya’s national road network using the traditional iRAP methodology, and a 137 km Pilot assessment conducted using Transoft Solution’s AiRAP Accredited AssetMapper tool.

AssetMAPPER Roads is a web-based platform designed to streamline iRAP assessments using AiRAP approaches. Using advanced automation for 20 key road attributes, it combines computer vision, an intuitive interface, and seamless ViDA integration enabling workflows to be faster, scalable and highly reliable.

AiRAP Accredited Practitioner Cliff Oketch Onyango said “AssetMAPPER has transformed the way we code roads. It’s faster, more accurate, and it gives us the confidence to deliver life-saving results.”

Crucially, the initiative went beyond assessment, providing hands-on, practical training for KeNHA’s Road Safety Team and strengthening in-house technical capacity.

This focus reflects a growing commitment to embedding evidence-based road safety practices within national institutions and ensuring local teams are equipped with the skills needed to assess and improve road infrastructure safety.

Building on this momentum, KeNHA has set ambitious plans for 2026. The Authority intends to scale up iRAP implementation by procuring a consultancy to Star Rate an additional 2,000 kilometres of the national road network and develop Safer Road Investment Plans to prioritise evidence-based safety improvements.

This expanded programme will be complemented by further specialized training, reinforcing Kenya’s long-term goal of integrating road safety into road planning, design, and operation – ultimately supporting safer journeys for all road users across the country.

Eng. Monica Abonyo, Director-Highway Design and Survey, KeNHA said, “We are proud and excited to be pioneering a new era for safer roads in Kenya integrating innovative technologies supported by iRAP and Transoft Solutions. These partnerships are central to KenHA’s mission to develop and manage safe and resilient National Trunk Roads for sustainable development through innovation and the optimal utilization of resources.”

For more information

• Read the Transoft Kenya Case Study
• To see AssetMapper in Action, join Transoft Solutions’ webinar – “Introduction to AssetMAPPER Roads, the AiRAP accredited inspection system” this week on 28 January – Register here

iRAP Safer Journeys Lead Nathalie Chiavassa met with AA Kenya this month with discussions shaping towards the development of a locally-led KenyaRAP.

The Business Case for Safer Roads in Kenya

According to iRAP’s Safety Insights Explorer, achieving UN Target 4 for greater than 75% of travel on 3-star or better roads for all road users by 2030 in Kenya stands to save an estimated 5,052 lives every year, and 878,255 fatalities and injuries over the 20-year life of road treatments, with an economic benefit of USD$2.7 billion – $10.90 for every $1 spent.

Images credit: Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA),Transoft and iRAP