Murkomen unveils plans to introduce Toll stations on major highways
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed plans to introduce tolls on major roads across the country.
The announcement was made during the launch of the Kenya National Highways Authority’s (KeNHA) strategic plan for 2023 to 2027.
Murkomen praised the success of the public-private funding model used for the Nairobi Expressway and stated that the government aims to both expand key roads and implement toll charges for road users. This move is part of an effort to generate revenue and support infrastructure development.
“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 comes at a time when the Ruto administration is strained in a bid to repair roads and construct new ones.
But in case you cannot afford to pay the toll fees, Murkomen 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.
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