Gov't to introduce charges for using major roads in Nairobi - Transport CS Murkomen

You will soon have to pay to use major roads in the country, Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has said.

Murkomen made the announcement on Friday during the launch of the Kenya National Highways Authority strategic plan for 2023 to 2027, adding that the government plans to not only expand major roads but to also charge road users for using the roads.

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.

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 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 Ksh.708 billion that KeNHA says it needs to improve the road infrastructure network over the next 5 years.