Motorists to pay heavily to use major roads in the country
Kipchumba Murkomen the Cabinet Secretary for transport has said that Kenyans will soon have to pay to use major roads in the country.
The Cabinet Secretary, Murkomen, made the announcement during the launch of the Kenya National Highways Authority strategic plan for 2023 to 2027, adding that the government not only plans to expand major roads but also to charge road users for using the roads.
Motorists to pay heavily to use major roads in the country
While hailing the public private funding model that was implemented for the Nairobi Expressway, the CS highlighted that the State will begin implementing the road toll model on various commonly used roads.
He stated that it is feasible, in my opinion, to toll the roads from Galleria to Rongai to Ngong and back to Karen Shopping Center. We can also toll the road from Athiriver to Namanga. I also think that Kiambu Road may be expanded and become toll-able,
With so many tax hikes in just over a year, Murkomen’s declaration shouldn’t come as a surprise.
But the CS notes that there are options if you are unable to pay the toll payments.
He added that there are so many alternative routes along this corridor that those who do not wish to pay toll fees will use those alternative roads,
Murkomen also hinted at an increase in the Road maintenance levy fund, saying the cost of maintaining roads has shot up. The fund is collected at the pump and is currently set at 18 shillings per litre.
The Kenya Roads Board had late last year proposed to increase the levy to 23 shillings per litre, on account of inflation which would have exponentially surged the cost of fuel.
The looming prospect of tolls on major roads and a potential hike in the road maintenance levy fund shifts the responsibility to citizens to help the government raise the 708 billion shillings that KeNHA says it needs to improve the road infrastructure network over the next 5 years.
