Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has justified his Ministry's decision to shore up the Nairobi Expressway charges.
In a Gazette Notice on Monday, the CS announced that the state revised the charges along the elevated highway from Ksh360 to Ksh500.
Soon after, however, concerned Kenyans identified flaws in the proposed increase, including a lack of public participation as well as failure to consult Parliament in the adjustments.
"CS Kipchumba Murkomen, what is your justification for raising expressway rates by 50 per cent? I now believe this regime is satanic," questioned Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi.
In response, Murkomen denied that the increase was by 50 per cent as alleged and explained that the rise in charges was necessitated by the state of the economy.
The CS further indicated that the rates were last determined when the Shilling traded at Ksh113 against the Dollar as compared to the current Ksh157.44.
"First the increase is not 50 per cent. If you take the maximum increase, which is from 360 to 500, you will get a difference of 140 Shillings. if you divide Ksh140 by Ksh360 and multiply by 100, you will get 38.89 per cent," Murkomen explained.
"Now, the last adjustment was done when one dollar was equal to Ksh113.14. Now the dollar is Ksh157 and using the same method i.e. Ksh157 minus Ksh113 which is equal to 44. Divide 44 by 113 and multiply by 100 and you will get 38.9 per cent. So the increase is proportional."
The CS further indicated that adjustment was done based on the Project Agreement taking into account the depreciation of the Kenya Shilling to the United States dollar since the time of gazettement of the Toll Rates in April 2022.
"The formulae for computing the new rates are already embedded in the agreement taking into account the loan facility by the investor which was borrowed using USD," he added.
He, however, disclosed that the nature of the agreement was beneficial to taxpayers since the state did not guarantee traffic, hence no need for Kenyans to make payments to recoup construction costs.
In the Gazette Notice, the new changes took effect beginning January 1, 2024.
"From Mlolongo to Westlands, one will have to pay Ksh500 for Manual Toll Collection (MTC). However, those using the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) will pay Ksh490," Moja Expressway told Kenyans.co.ke.
The least amount motorists will pay on the highway is Ksh170, an increase from Ksh120.
