‘Hii tumekataa!’ Kenyans against Sh7,000 toll on Nakuru highway

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Kenyans will be forced to part with between Sh1,458 and Sh7,290 to use the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit road when the new policy by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) will be effected.

When adopted, the toll charges will make Kenyaโ€™s highways among the most expensive to ride on in the world, alongside European countries that, however, enjoy cross-border highways.

According to Business Daily, the highways’ authority recommended that high-capacity vehicles like transit lorries pay Sh30 per kilometre, while low-capacity vehicles like saloon cars will pay Sh6 per kilometre on the 243km stretch.


This means that heavy vehicles will pay up to over Sh7,000 which will consequently raise the cost of doing business and eventually lead to increased prices of goods and services.

In addition, motorists will pay between Sh111 and Sh557 to use the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Westlands expressway that starts at Mlolongo and terminates in Westlands.

The introduction of toll roads will be done through a public- private partnership plan (PPP) with Nairobi-Mombasa highway, Thika super highway, Nairobiโ€™s Southern bypass and a second Nyali bridge in Mombasa also targeted.

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Advertisement of upcoming toll station along Southern Bypass, Nairobi. Photo: Courtesy

“The first in line and whose procurement has progressed well are Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau summit Expressway and Nairobi Expressway (JKIA to James Gichuru Road). Others will come after evaluating the success of the above two,โ€ KeNHA director-general Peter Mundinia told BD.

Four provisional tolling station have already been recommened: one after the Rironi interchange, a second one on A8 South (along Naivasha-Mai Mahiu), the third at the Gilgil weighbridge and the last one at Salgaa.

According to reports, the toll fees will add to the Sh18 per kilometre fuel levy currently charged for maintaining Kenyaโ€™s roads.

Road tolls were first introduced in late 1980s then scrapped in mid 1990s to pave way for road maintenance levy, which is currently attached to the retail price of fuel.

The move has been highly criticized by Kenyans with some offering alternative routes to avoid the toll stations.


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