By ISAAC ONGIRI
Motorists on some of the highways will now incur toll charges as the Government targets millions of shillings in revenue for maintenance.
Parliament will have to legislate to guide the management of tolled highways once a proposal by the Ministry of Roads is put in place.
Motorists will pay to enjoy the smooth drive on Thika road and later other classified highways or drive free on the congested alternatives off the main highways once a legislation to manage the modern roads are put in place.
Thika superhighway during construction.[PHOTOS: FILE/STANDARD] |
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The plan to impose levies on highway driving is expected to be in place in the next 24 months to facilitate a road maintenance programme being designed by the Government.
Roads Minister Franklin Bett confirmed his ministry has proposed the imposition of toll rates for users of the Thika road motorway to raise funds for the maintenance of the Sh30 billion highway, which is East Africa’s largest.
"Highway tolls are the way to go and we have proposed this concept. It is important that Kenyans prepare for it," Mr Bett said.
The actual amount to be charged on motorable machines moving on the highway, Bett said, will be determined at a later stage.
Expensive roads
The minister revealed the concept could be in place in the two years, explaining that all the major highways around the world are on toll management.
If introduced, the Government could collect millions of shillings daily from road users who drive on the highway.
It is estimated close to 80,000 vehicles drive on the road every day, a factor that could help generate high revenue for the maintenance.
Bett, however, said the modalities for introducing the toll concept for all motorists using the highway is yet to be developed, but the proposal is in the pipeline.
Managing Director of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Meshack Kidenda confirmed plans to introduce toll stations along Thika superhighway are already underway.
"Thika Road is one of the most expensive roads we have and its maintenance cost is likely to be unmanageable if we do not put down proper plans to raise funds for it," Mr Kidenda said.
The KeNHA boss said a private company will be outsourced to manage the toll stations erected in the 54km highway once the Government puts in place the mechanisms required to manage the highway.
Kidenda said if the highway is allowed to run toll free then it may be difficult to raise the resources required to maintain it.
Attracted protests
"We are developing the plan for the management of the highways. We have to put in place a legal mechanism that will support the toll collection plans that we are proposing," Kidenda said.
The KeNHA will have to put in place an electronic toll management system in the route for easy revenue collection from motorists.
Bett and Kidenda said highway tolls is part of modern road transport development, insisting it will be difficult to operate without it.
Kidenda said the levies to be charged on every motor vehicle will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the car.
However, in countries already practicing the highway toll systems, Government vehicles are exempted from the tolls.
The move is likely to attract public attention given the already unbearable cost of living, especially after a celebrated relief that followed the start of the Thika Road highway project.
In Africa, Morocco is the only African country to have successfully implemented a highway toll.
In South Africa, an attempt to introduce the programme attracted massive protests after locals rejected a proposal by the Government to impose a US$73.55 (Sh6,178) as monthly highway toll for saloon cars.
The money is to be used to repay billions of rands in loans used to upgrade highways.
Thika Road has cost over Sh28 billion raised jointly though a Chinese Government loan and the Government of Kenya.
The eight-lane road project started in 2008 is just about to be completed to give way to a massive infrastructural development not seen in Kenya before.
Already, there is a road levy in the price of every litre of petrol a motovehicle owner buys. It would be interesting to see how the two are harmomised, for consumers who pay numerous other taxes.
