Charges For Using Major Roads In Nairobi – Murkomen

Charges For Using Major Roads In Nairobi – Murkomen

Charges For Using Major Roads In Nairobi – Murkomen

Major road usage in the nation will soon need  payment, according to Transport  Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen.

During the introduction of the Kenya National Highways Authority’s strategic plan  for 2023 to 2027 on Friday, Murkomen made the news and added that the  government  intended to charge road users for utilizing the key highways in addition to  expanding  them.

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

“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,” he said.

Murkomen’s announcement should come as no shock to a country overburdened by taxes increases in just a little over a year.

But in case you cannot afford to pay the toll fees, the CS says there are alternatives

“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,” he said.

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 Ksh.18 per litre.

The Kenya Roads Board had late last year 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,” said the CS.

The onus now moves to the public to assist the government in raising the Ksh. 708  billion that KeNHA claims it needs to upgrade the road infrastructure network over  the next five years, in light of the impending likelihood of tolls on major routes and  a possible increase in the road maintenance tax fund.

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