Ruto Has Built Nothing- Uproar Over Murkomen's Ksh700 M Proposal To Toll Major Roads

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has found himself under fire for proposing the introduction of toll stations on major highways across the country in a bid to raise funds for the construction and maintenance of roads in Kenya.

Speaking on Friday during the launch of the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, Murkomen placed Athi River-Namanga Road and Galleria-Rongai-Ngong-Karen Shopping Centre among roads that will be subjected to the tolling system.

Other roads included Mombasa to Malaba, Corridor C and D roads which are Museum Hill-Moyale and Sirare- Lodwar respectively and Kiambu Road.

"The Public-Private Partnership model remains our key strategy in delivering cutting-edge infrastructural projects. We must find ways of tolling our main highways and transfer the benefits to Kenyans. 

A toll station along the Nairobi Expressway. /FILE

"Properly delivered tolled roads will save Kenyans time and fuel. A healthier society can be nurtured by building quality infrastructure, and we shall be innovative in delivering this," said Murkomen.

The CS stressed the government's commitment to raising alternative funds to facilitate the improvement of road networks across the country.

Furthermore, the proposal would boost the overall plan of constructing over 2,000 kilometres across the country.

“We will make sure that, from all those tolled roads, the resources are transferred back to the people of Kenya by giving them quality roads,” Murkomen stated, adding that the government would spend an average of Ksh700 million to install the new toll stations across the major roads.

However, the proposal was met with criticism led by Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, who accused President William Ruto's government of not constructing roads with taxpayers' money compared to previous governments and instead resorting to taxing motorists already using the major highways.

"Kibaki and Raila built most if not all of these roads with OUR money. When you drive on these roads you will see signs by KeNHA telling you your taxes AKA fuel levy were used to build/maintain those roads.

"Ruto has built nothing. He cannot tax us for using our own roads. If he wants, he can build his roads and put tolls there," Sifuna remarked on X.

Some netizens revived a past video capturing an address by National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung'wah who mocked the Nairobi Expressway as well as the toll stations erected for people using it.

"They said that us dirty people, the hustlers, should be using the lower roads while they use the Expressway," Ichung'wah said at the time.

KeNHA's overall mandate is to develop, rehabilitate, manage and maintain all national trunk roads across the country.

Roads Murkomen Is Proposing That They Be Tolled

1. Athi River-Namanga Road 
2. Galleria-Rongai-Ngong-Karen Shopping Centre 
3.  Mombasa to Malaba Road
4. Museum Hill-Moyale Road
5. Sirare- Lodwar Road
6. Kiambu Road

Kipchumba Murkomen appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. /BUSINESS DAILY