Government plans charges for using major roads in Kenya

Nairobi, the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Kipchumba Murkomen has stated that citizens will have to pay to use the major roads in Kenya.

The C.S. Kipchumba Murkomen made the announcement during the launch of the Kenya National Highways Authority’s strategic plan for 2023 to 2027, highlighting that the government plans to expand all the major roads in the country and also charge the users of the said major roads.

The CS also noted that the government will also begin the implementation of road toll model on various commonly used roads throughout the country.

“I believe that we can toll the road from Athiriver to Namanga, I believe that it is possible to toll the road from Galleria to Rongai to Ngong and back to Karen Shopping Centre. I believe also that it is possible to expand and toll the road of Kiambu road,” C.S. Murkomen stated.

The latest announcement came as a shock to many Kenyans due to the already ongoing tax turmoil in the country. Many Kenyans have expressed their dissatisfaction due to the government’s way of handling the country’s economy.

In the alternative, the C.S. for Roads and Transport has suggested using other routes for those who can’t afford or don’t wish to pay road toll fees.

“The good news is that there are so many alternative routes along this corridor that those who don’t wish to pay toll fees, we’ll give them those alternative roads,” C.S. Murkomen stated.

C.S. Murkomen has also hinted on an increase in the road maintenance levy fund, citing that the cost of maintaining roads has shot up, adding that if the current road maintenance levy fund is not increased the ministry would not be able to maintain the roads as before.

Late last year The Kenya Roads Board had proposed to increase the levy to Ksh.23 per litre, on account of inflation which would have exponentially surged the cost of fuel.

“If you look at the money allocated to KeNHA at 40%, I can say without fear of contradiction that KeNHA in the next 2 years will not be able to meet its responsibilities in terms of maintaining the roads to the standard they have done before,” stated C.S. Murkomen.

Here is a list of some of the roads to be paid for:

• Athi River-Namanga Road
• Galleria-Rongai-Ngong-Karen Shopping Centre
• Mombasa to Malaba,
• Museum Hill-Moyale
• Sirare- Lodwar
• Kiambu Road

According to the C.S. for Roads and Transport the project will benefit many Kenyans as more than 2000 Kilometres of roads will be tarmacked through the revenue generated.

This however has displeased many Kenyans who maintain that the roads were built by taxpayers’ money and now they have to be taxed for using what they paid for.

The responsibility for building and maintenance of these toll stations on major roads now falls on the hands of the Kenyan taxpayers, with over KSh.708 billion needed to commence this project.