Abstract
Abstract
The Kenyan RARP, institutionalised within the Ministry of Works, was the first and remains the largest labour intensive road construction and maintenance programme in Africa. The objectives of the programme were (a) to provide all weather access between high potential farming areas and market centres (farmers said they could grow more food but they could not reach the secondary road network and, therefore, the market centres where the surplus could be sold); (b) to provide meaningful employment opportunities; (c) to encourage the production of cash crops; (d) to improve the quality of rural life and access to services at "growth centres". The programme was financed by eight donor agencies and the Kenyan government. Since 1974 it has been responsible for the construction of 8 000 kms of earth road of which nearly 6 000 kms have been gravelled. During the peak of its construction phase 14 5000 casual labourers were employed and 1 400 supervisory staff: in sum over 70 000 years of casual employment have been created and 6 000 years of supervisory employment. The KRARP was immensely successful and it should be the basic model for any country wishing to introduce such a programme. Reasons for success could be used as a primary check list against which to assess any proposed programme in a new country or any established programme embarking upon new directions.