Deputy President, William Ruto, now says Kenyans should not be charged for using the Nairobi Expressways promising to remove the charges should he be elected on August 9.
Speaking during an interview on KTN News on Thursday, July 7, Ruto argued that Kenyans are already suffering owing to the ballooning debt and wage bill.
Ruto - who is running for the presidency on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket - argued that it was unnecessary to make Kenyans suffer even more despite the skyrocketing cost of living.
"You don't charge people for using the road," said DP Ruto.
To pay off debts to contractors, toll stations have been erected on the Nairobi Expressway - which connects Mlolongo and Westlands - where motorists are expected to pay for every trip they make.
The Deputy President argued that such a model inflicts an unfair tax burden on the already suffering Kenyans.
"Taxation will be taken to products, not highways. People will pay for products that are transported through the road but not for using it," he added.
If elected on August 9, DP pledged to create a tax regime on a variety of commodities and services to recuperate investments.
To eliminate all taxing zones, the Kenya Kwanza alliance leader said his administration will open the elevated roadway to the highest possible number of people.
To use the Expressway, each motorist is required to pay a fee of between Ksh100 and Ksh360 depending on the distance travelled.
The 27.1-kilometre road was built on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with complete funding coming from the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).
At a cost of Ksh88 billion, CCCC will operate the road for 30 years to recover its monies before handing it over to the Kenyan government.
However, the Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek), filed a suit in High Court disputing the toll charges issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
