Abstract
It is a proven fact that development and maintenance of road infrastructure are prerequisites for rapid economic growth and poverty reduction. Despite Kenya being considered an economic powerhouse in the Eastern and parts of Central African Economic block, the size of the rural roads network, has suffered from inadequate maintenance,repair and rehabilitation (MR&R). This paper aims to provide a review of challenges the Kenyan government has faced on its rural road network development, the effects of rural road network on productivity and growth,and the interventions proposed. This research is based on literature review. The current challenges stifling the rural roads development are: technically inexperienced constituency roads committee,increased overhead costs,large conflict of interest due to bigger groups involvement, inadequate supervision capacity, transition into the devolved government structures and challenges of road classifications into national and
county roads. The negative effects on the rural road network on growth and productivity are delays, and loss of sending farm produce to the market.The Kenyan government interventions are;consideration of increasing fuel levy to create an enabling environment for the private sector participation under private public partnership (PPP) arrangements but to name a few. This study advocates for practical policies that will lead the country to achieve Vision 2030, which the authors view as a catalyst to correct the ills of the past 50 years of its independence.