Govt Adjusts Nairobi Expressway Charges

Photo Collage of the Nairobi Expressway running from Mlolongo to Westlands
Photo Collage of the Nairobi Expressway running from Mlolongo to Westlands
Moja Expressway

The national government has revised the toll charges for motorists using the Nairobi Expressway that will be commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta by next month.

During the 27 years period when Moja Expressway Company, an affiliate of the China Road Corporation, will be operating the elevated road project, motorists will be required to pay between Ksh100 and Ksh360 depending on the distance covered.

According to Kenya Gazette dated Friday, April 22, the charges on the 27-kilometer road running from Mlolongo to Westlands will be imposed on motorists immediately it is open to the public.

"In Exercise of the powers conferred by section 4B (3) of the Public Roads Toll Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works approves the toll rates for Nairobi Express Way as set out in the Schedule hereto," the Kenya Gazette signed by Transport CS, James Macharia, stated.

Nairobi Expressway project near Chiromo road interchange
Nairobi Expressway project near Chiromo Road interchange
Moja Expressway

According to the notice, to commute from the Nairobi East (Mlolongo) section of the Nairobi Expressway to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) motorists will be charged Ksh180 and not Ksh120 as earlier announced. The same amount will apply to those exiting Nairobi Expressway at the Eastern Bypass.

A trip from Nairobi East to Southern Bypass will cost Ksh240 and not Ksh210, while to Capital Center will be Ksh300 and not Ksh260. A trip from Nairobi East to Museum Hill be charged Ksh360 up to Westlands according to the revised charges.

From Mlolongo to SGR motorists will be charged Ksh120, while from Mlolongo to Eastern Bypass, it will be tolled at Ksh180. From Mlolongo to Southern Bypass and Capital Center will be charged a flat rate of Ksh240. To Museum Hill motorists will be charged Ksh300 and Ksh360 up to the James Gichuru Road intersection.

Graphic representation of the Nairobi Expressway Charges as appoved by the Kenya Gazette published on Friday April 22, 2022
Graphic representation of the Nairobi Expressway Charges as approved by the Kenya Gazette published on Friday, April 22, 2022.
Kenyans.co.ke

According to the Moja Expressway Company, motorists can either pay using three methods: cash, a Manual Toll Card, or an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC). 

For motorists planning to use MTC, it acts as a payment card whereby motorists will swipe at the toll stations and the fee will be deducted based on the distance covered. 

However, in the case of an ETC, they use a points-based system where points will be deducted from the vehicle's On-Board Unit (OBU) that was pre-installed.

Motorists will need to physically go to the toll station, open an account and provide required documentation such as a copy of ID and a copy of logbook as proof of vehicle ownership.

The OBU is then fitted on the vehicle's windscreen to allow infrared scanning when the vehicle passes through the toll station. Further, drivers will be required to pay a service charge of Ksh1,000 for the ETC. 

The project, which began in June 2020, was expected to be completed by December 2021, but the dates were postponed by the Ministry of Transport. 

The initial budget of the project was estimated to cost Ksh65.2 billion as provided by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) but it rose to Ksh87.9 billion.