The government is mulling a plan to reduce the Nairobi Expressway toll card charges from the current Ksh2,000 to Ksh300 in a proposed plan to encourage more Kenyans to signup for the electronic payment system.
Infrastructure Principal Secretary, Paul Maringa, on Tuesday, May 31, informed the National Assembly Transport, Housing, and Public Works Committee that plans are also at an advanced stage to integrate mobile money payment into the system so as to increase efficiency and reduce the amount of time spent at the toll stations.
He added that the aim is to discourage cash payment and encourage motorists to either opt for the Manual Toll Card or Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) service.
The PS added that the government has also made plans to enable the cardholders to use them in paying for goods and services in places like petrol stations and supermarkets.
"It takes three seconds to use the card while it takes 45 seconds to use other modes of payment like a credit card. It even takes longer while paying cash.”
"We discourage using cash payment because some people carry less money and start arguing at the payment point while others waste time as they wait for change. This is why we are encouraging everyone to use cards," stated PS Maringa.
He also noted that new plans to redesign the expressway were already in place, saying this was necessary to curb traffic and enable easy access to the Central Business District (CBD). New exits will be added to link the Green Park Terminus and Haile Selassie Avenue as well as the Nyayo House roundabout.
The PS noted that he will approve the new design by the end of the week in order for work to begin. The redesign process is expected to take an average of three to six months.
“It is something that we are going to do immediately. Already I’m going to approve the new design then construction works will just start," he noted.
The PS added that the government wants to venture into a sensitisation campaign for Kenyans on how to use the 27.1-kilometre elevated road. This is after they received complaints from motorists over issues such as the set prices being too high as well as congestion along certain exits.
The Ksh88 billion road is still in use on a trial period before the official launch by President Uhuru Kenyatta at a later date.
