Govt Says Roads With More Than 5,000 Cars a Day to be Considered for Tolling

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has clarified that existing roads with a daily traffic of 5,000 vehicles will be considered for tolling.

While he appeared before the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Transport, Chirchir also noted that existing roads with significant freight movement (movement of goods) will be considered for tolling.

Additionally, existing roads that are modified to include new lanes or improved safety features and driving conditions will be tolled in the plans.

Some newly constructed roads will also be considered to be put under the user pays model. The roads earmarked for the plan include the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway and  Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway.

"In a comprehensive presentation to the committee, CS Chirchir said the policy aims to introduce a dynamic and sustainable tolling system, built around the 'User Pay Charges' principle. The plan seeks to optimize revenue generation from toll roads using advanced tolling technologies and modern highway maintenance systems," read the statement by the committee in part.

"Toll revenues are earmarked to fund major infrastructure projects such as the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway and the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway. Both projects are structured as PPPs, where private investors will finance, construct, and operate the roads in exchange for toll income."

Even as the government tolls roads, there will be alternative routes for those who do not want to use the toll roads.

Concerns Raised by Kenyans on the Plan

During the public engagement, Kenyans proposed specific toll exemptions for people with disabilities, school buses, and medical utility vehicles.

Additionally, some Kenyans proposed the introduction of toll-free days, discounts for frequent users, and subsidies for specific groups.

"Another recurring issue was the review period of the policy. Many felt that the proposed 10-year cycle was too long and recommended a 5-year review to better adapt to evolving needs and challenges," the committee added.

"From their end, the committee underscored the importance of alternative toll-free routes, stating that all citizens should have a choice. However, they acknowledged that in some areas, viable alternative roads are lacking—raising concerns about inclusivity and access."

With the views given by Kenyans, the Ministry is set to begin drafting the policy that will pave the way for the implementation of the toll roads.

In February 2025, the Ministry of Transport proposed the National Tolling Policy, which seeks to create a framework for the government to undertake road projects under the PPP model and have motorists charged to use the road.

As proposed in the policy,  the government will set toll charges based on the costs of the road project, a survey (conducted on users who use the road), and the impact of the charges on the vehicles using that particular road.

Review of the toll charges will be done quarterly.

Some of the existing roads that have been considered for tolling in previous plans include the Thika Superhighway, the Kenol-Sagana-Marua Road, the Mombasa Southern Bypass, and the Dongo Kundu Bypass.