Essential for embryonic kidney development. Plays an important role in the compact adhesion between mesenchymal cells adjacent to the ureteric buds, possibly by interacting with MYH10. This could lead to the establishment of the basolateral integrity of the mesenchyme and the polarized expression of ITGA8, which maintains the GDNF expression required for further ureteric bud attraction. Although it seems to lack ATPase activity it is constitutively associated with microtubules (By similarity). . This is the function of KIF26B (kinesin family member 26B, ENSG00000162849).