Leaders from the lower Eastern region on Friday, April 14, pushed President William Ruto to ban the payment of toll fees on the Nairobi Expressway.
While accompanying Ruto during the launch of development projects in Mavoko, Machakos County, the area Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi noted that the region had been affected economically by the toll payment plan.
He noted that many residents had been locked out from using the 27-kilometre road that was constructed during the reign of former President Uhuru Kenyatta
Mwangangi urged the Head of State to adopt models used in other mega infrastructure projects so as to open the region to investors.
"On the other side, the government built the Superhighway and no one is required to pay money to use that road. However, they built the expressway for us and we have to pay for it.
"That is undermining the economic development of this region. On that, we are really begging you to act," he stated.
Mwangangi's comments were supported by his boss, Wavinya Ndeti, who echoed the effects of the toll payments on the economies of the region.
However, when Ruto made his address, he steered clear of the debate and focused on other infrastructural projects in the area among issues affecting Kenyans such as the cost of living.
The Nairobi Expressway - which was built at an estimated cost of Ksh88 billion - was launched by Uhuru on July 31, 2022
Uhuru's legacy infrastructural project was constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation under the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) model.
In the agreement with the government, the contractor was to recoup the money used to build the project through a collection of toll fees - which is currently being done.
Motorists using the road, which begins from Westlands to Mlolongo, pay varying toll fees depending on their entry point.
The least amount a motorist can spend on the road is Ksh120 while the highest is Ksh360 (Westlands - Mlolongo).
