Relief for motorists after minister suspends road tolling plan

A billboard erected by the Kenya National Highways Authority along the Southern Bypass near the Lang'ata Road overpass announcing the putting up of a toll station. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU  

By KIARIE NJOROGE, gkiarie@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Transport CS James Macharia has ordered immediate suspension of the plan even as he criticised the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) for rolling it out without the ministry’s approval.
• Mr Macharia described the move as an “ill-thought-out action that risked poisoning Kenyans’ minds against toll roads.”

Transport secretary James Macharia on Thursday hit out at roads development agency KeNHA over plans to introduce user fees on four major highways, terming the move unprocedural.

Mr Macharia ordered immediate suspension of the plan even as he criticised the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) for rolling it out without the ministry’s approval.

He suspended the tolling plan for the Nairobi-Nakuru, Nairobi-Mombasa, Thika Superhighway and Nairobi’s Southern By-pass until an ongoing policy study for the plan is completed.

KeNHA had erected billboards on the roads several weeks ago, notifying motorists of the intention to introduce user fees commonly known as tolls – to boost the pool of cash it is currently collecting through fuel levy.

Mr Macharia described the move as an “ill-thought-out action that risked poisoning Kenyans’ minds against toll roads.”

“Whereas the government has proposed to develop and maintain some roads in the country through road tolls, the said billboards were premature and unauthorised as the government is yet to adopt an elaborate policy on road tolling,” the minister said in a statement.

“The ministry has as such directed the various implementing partners to remove the said billboards, pending conclusion of the infrastructure funding policy study, review and adoption of the same as well as wide consultations on all key stakeholders along the said roads.”

READ: Double taxation for motorists as road toll looms on key highways

Mr Macharia said the action by KeNHA had the potential of tainting a ‘noble and strategic infrastructure development programme,’ which the government is working on to accelerate infrastructure growth.

The suspension should come as a relief to motorists and travellers who faced additional transport costs despite having absorbed an increase in several other charges and are facing a 16 per cent rise in fuel costs later in the year.

Tolling involves paying a fee usually by electronic means (mobile money or cards) at a tolling booth for the distance that a driver uses a specific road.

The plan has in recent weeks generated a lot of opposition with critics arguing that it was illegal for motorists to pay to use a road that has been developed using taxpayers’ money.

Equally, it has been pointed out that if the toll fees are meant for maintenance of the roads, it would amount to double taxation as motorists are already paying the Road Maintenance Levy as a component of fuel prices.

Mr Macharia did not rule out introduction of toll roads in the future, but insisted that this would depend on an infrastructure funding policy to be developed by a consultant.

“The consultant has concluded this study and made policy recommendations, which are under consideration for adoption by the government,” he said.