You Will Pay Sh7,000 For Driving Along This Kenyan Highway

Kenyan motorists using the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit road will pay between Sh 1,458 and Sh 7,290  in toll charges: high capacity vehicles such as transit lorries will pay Sh 30 per kilometer while low capacity vehicles will pay Sh 6 per kilometer.

The same rates, which are subject to approval by the Transport Ministry, will be used for motorists using Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Westland’s expressway that starts at Mlolongo and terminates in Westlands.

Motorists will be charged upon the completion of the two highways, according to KeNHA director-general Peter Mundinia, funds received from the toll fees will be used to invest in the PPP pacts, maintenance of major arteries and expansion of the road network countrywide.

“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,” he said.

The construction of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway which is done by the Rift Valley Connect (RVC) at a cost of Sh 180 bn has already begun.

However, the construction of the JKIA-Westlands expressway which will cost Sh50 billion is yet to begin as the government seeks a funding partner under the PPP arrangement.

The provisional tolling stations, as identified by KeNHA include; one after the Rironi interchange, another at A8 South (along Naivasha-Mai Mahiu), the third at the Gilgil weighbridge and the fourth one at Salgaa.

The JKIA-Westlands expressway, on the other hand, will have about 10 interchanges and is estimated to have a similar number of toll stations.

Toll fees were first introduced in the 1980s but were later scrapped and replaced with a road maintenance levy that is charged at the fuel pump charging motorists Sh18 per litre for petrol and diesel.

The re-introduction of toll fees was made on grounds that current tax collections are insufficient for road maintenance and expansion. It has however faced criticism from road users who demand the provision of alternative freeways for those who cannot afford the payments.

KeNHA, however, noted that such drivers can still opt to use other roads connecting the towns to the capital but will have to bear with heavy traffic.

Featured Image Courtesy: Capitalfm.co.ke