Classes A, B and C: Debunking Kenya’s Road Classification

If you are a road user in Kenya, you will most likely have seen classifications such as ‘A109’, ‘A104’, ‘B3’, ‘B6’, ‘C77’ or ‘C55’ on the roads.
To many, these might be of little or no significance. But did you know that these classifications play a key role in the country’s overall road and transport network?
Kenyan roads are classified into six categories, from A to E, which are further divided into subcategories using numbers. There is also a provision for special road classifications.
The letters and some numbers indicate the type and status of the road within the national network. Also, each class is based on theroad’s function and the administrative level it serves.
This category of roads forms Kenya’s most important highways and connects Kenya to international boundaries. They are also called international trunk roads and are part of the Trans-African Highway network.
The roads serve as a link between centres of international importance, cross international boundaries, and typically terminate at international ports.
Examples of Class A roads in Kenya are:
Next are the Class B roads, which connect nationally important centres, principal towns, and urban areas. They are also called national trunk roads and can also connect with class A roads.
Examples are:
A road that links provincially important centres to each other or to higher-class roads is known as a class C road. This might mean connecting county towns or connecting class A or class B roads.
Examples are:
A key point to note is that Class A, B and C roads are all managed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), while the road classifications below them are managed by Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).
Class D and Class E connect local towns to more important ones and also link minor centres, markets and or local areas. An example of a Class D road is the one from Mwiki to Kasarani, while Class E roads are mostly found in rural areas.
Special class roads involve forest roads, roads serving schools, hospitals, and government institutions, roads leading to coffee, tea, wheat, and sugar growing areas, roads leading to national parks, and unclassified rural roads leading to mineral deposits.
The currentroad classification system was developed 30 years ago.