Kenya not ready for road toll, CS Macharia tells highways authority

NAIROBI: Government has faulted the decision by Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) to erect toll fee billboards on key roads even before the adoption of a policy on the same.

In a statement signed by Transport and Infrastructure CS James Macharia, the government said that the move has the potential of tainting an "otherwise noble and strategic infrastructure program."

Billboards bearing KENHA logo had been erected on key roads, notifying motorists of the intention to introduce fees commonly called tolls to raise more money for infrastructural development.
"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," said Macharia.

Macharia has also directed the various implementing partners to remove the billboards until the policy study is concluded.

He added that once the study is complete, it will have to be reviewed, more consultations done with the key stakeholders on the affected roads and then adopted to pave way for implantation.

The announcement means that KENHA will have to pull down the billboards on highways such as Nairobi-Nakuru, Nairobi-Mombasa, Thika Superhighway and Nairobi's Southern by-pass.

Early last year, the government put an advert in the local dailies seeking for a consultant who could provide transaction advisory services for tendering of maintenance, operation and tolling of highways.
In the Thursday's communication, the Ministry revealed that the consultant has already concluded the study and forwarded the recommendations. Macharia said that the recommendations are being considered for adoption.

Road tolls were first introduced in late 1980s then scrapped in mid 1990s to pave way for road maintenance levy.

Currently, Road Maintenance Levy is attached to the retail price of fuel. For every litre of petrol, Sh9 is charged for road maintenance. The levy on diesel stands at Sh8.24 per litre.

In the year to June 2015, the Kenya Roads Board is estimated to have collected more than Sh20 billion.
The looming toll fee added to the road maintenance levy among other taxes paid on consuming fuel has seen the government's attract criticism.

Lobbyists like Consumers Federation of Kenya secretary-general Stephen Mutoro say that the plan is double taxation and a means to fleecing consumers.