The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has unveiled plans to integrate advanced geosynthetic systems into highway designs.
The authority said the move aims to make roads more resilient against floods and extreme weather events across the country.
In partnership with Italian engineering firm Officine Maccaferri S.p.A., the authority made the announcement on Thursday, April 14, during a technical workshop on innovative geosynthetic solutions.
KeNHA to Adopt Geosynthetic Technology in Improving Road Durability
“To address increasing climate pressures, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is enhancing her design approach by integrating advanced geosynthetic systems to improve slope stability, durability, and environmental protection,” KeNHA said.
KeNHA said insights from the workshop will inform future projects and support the adoption of smarter, more resilient solutions across the national road network, underscoring its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and excellence in service delivery.
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This comes amid growing concerns over the durability of major highways, with several roads experiencing damage linked to flooding and weak subgrade conditions
Several parts of the county have in the past been brought to a standstill after heavy rains triggered flooding, rendering major roads impassable and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded for hours.
The heavy rains in Kenya caused widespread flooding, rendering several key roads, including the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, sections of the Nairobi Expressway, and the Kisumu-Kericho highway, impassable.
Other severely impacted areas include Mombasa (Nyali/Kisauni), the Suswa-Narok highway, and the Marigat–Loruk road, causing major traffic jams, stranded motorists, and rising transport costs.
What the Geosynthetic System Does
Geosynthetic systems on roads—including geogrids, geotextiles, and geocells—are engineered polymeric materials used to reinforce soil, separate layers, and improve drainage.
They enhance structural integrity, prevent premature road failure from traffic loads, and reduce construction costs by extending pavement life, particularly in weak subgrade conditions.
The systems perform several key functions in roadway construction. These include separation, where they prevent the intermixing of weak subgrade soils with high-quality aggregate materials, preserving the structural design.
They also provide reinforcement and stiffening, where geogrids and geocells offer tensile strength and confine soil, helping distribute loads over a wider area and increasing bearing capacity.
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In addition, geosynthetics support drainage and filtration by allowing water to pass through while preventing fine soil particles from weakening the road structure.
They are also used in asphalt reinforcement, where they are placed between asphalt layers to retard reflective cracking and prevent water infiltration.
In road construction, geosynthetics play a crucial role in stabilizing and separating unbound pavement layers, improving load distribution and ensuring stability even on soft or uneven subgrades.
They also assist in slope protection, soil reinforcement, and erosion control while maintaining the integrity of the roadbed over time.
