Conditions of the main paved roads have been stable since 1989. But this has been more the result of massive donor-funded rehabilitation rather than regular maintenance. For the study area's main unpaved roads, the trend has been downward. Poor maintenance is the main reason, but more and heavier traffic on gravel roads has added to the decline. Recent traffic surveys in Kenya show that some unpaved roads now carry traffic which would normally use paved surfaces.
Urban roads are in alarming shape.
Even busy and essential byways are neglected- streets are badly maintained, and traffic is often appalling. In many places, these conditions are in direct contrast to the better through-roads maintained by the main road agency. In 10 of the 12 countries in the area, government departments as road agencies manage the main roads. And because they belong to the civil service, they face the same constraints as other government agencies- poor salaries and impaired working conditions. Rural roads are managed by district administrations, but a lack of resources prevents them from maintaining or working on roads.