The condition of the transport system is poor compared to the transportation infrastructure in other parts of the world. Millions of dollars are lost in buying fuel spent in traffic jams and long queues at the shipping docks and at the border points.

Having lived and commuted in Kenya I racked up over 50,000 kilometers (30,000 miles). There is on the whole a tarmacked road where ever you need to go ( a couple of exceptions like the time I got stuck in the Kakamega rainforest after dark in the rain with bandits roaming the area) but the state of those roads is not good, potholes big enough to break your axel if you are not careful for example.

One big difference from the western world is the lack of motorways, lets look at the Nairbi Mombasa road (300 miles) this connects the main East African port of Mombasa with Nairobi and from there through out the region to Uganda, Congo, South Sudan and beyond…

As you can imagine a lot of container carrying trucks and oil tankers and… single lane! Single lane the entire way! The problem isn’t really over-taking, you can find space (eventually) the problem is coming around a corner and finding a massive truck coming in your direction in your lane, the truck is in mid-over-take and so can’t go anywhere so you have to fishtale onto the hard shoulder and hope for the best…

Having said all this, once you get out into the bush, you often have the roads to yourself and the wildlife… driving slowly past giraffes, baboons and eland on the road makes a commute much more enjoyable

Since 2002, transport systems have improved drastically with system expansions in all areas– roads, air, rail and water.

Roads

• There is an approximately 177,500 km of road network consisting of classified roads (63,000km) and unclassified roads (114,500 km)
• Roads constitute above 80% of the total transportation in Kenya

Air

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Moi Inernational Airport are the main airports and there are over 150 air strips across the country.

Rail

The railway system (built under colonial rule) links the Port of Mombasa to Nairobi, Taveta and Kisumu into Uganda. Plans are under way to upgrade.

Sea

• The port of Mombasa has 21 berths, two oil jetties and dry bulk wharves that accommodate ships and cargo of all sizes and types.
• Recent efforts have been made to privatize the port in a bid to enhance its efficiency and reliability.
• The port is connected with major ports globally with ships sailing over 200 times weekly to Europe, USA, Asia, Australia and other parts of Africa.