The Motorists Association of Kenya on Tuesday issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to rescind its decision to introduce tolling stations on more roads in Kenya.
On Tuesday, the Association led by its chairperson Peter Murima, stated that despite the government's move to toll all roads, it did not give an alternative for those who cannot pay the toll fee.
This statement, however, is contrary to Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen's clarification that the toll stations will not be constructed on existing highways but on new roads.
It was yet to be clear whether the association was in possession of the CS's clarification. However, the chairperson insisted that tolling more roads would greatly inconvenience and destabilise the transport sector and cause Kenyans to be triple taxed for infrastructure.
The association further stated that motorists would resort to using feeder roads which will be quite challenging.
"A toll road should have an alternative for the users who do not want to use that, so it should be optional, and the option being given is being neglected," stated Murima.
"That is why we fear when we are told we are going to use the feeder roads where these public roads will be taken which means we have to turn around and go different paths to avoid your road which you used to enjoy. There is freedom for motoring and we are going to battle for it. Yes we are being taxed but we should see the benefits of the taxes," added the Motorist Association chairperson.
Murkomen was thus urged to revert his plan lest the operators down their tools in protest.
On Friday, January 2, Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen clarified that his ministry planned to build new highways with tolling stations, contrary to reports that the stops would be constructed on all existing roads.
“To support the local economy, dualling and tolling of roads will be open to pension funds, local financial institutions and ordinary citizens through the stock exchange," the CS stated in the op-ed published in the Daily Nation.
“Revenue from tolls can supplement government budgets and enable agencies to invest more in infrastructure without relying only on budgetary allocations,” he added in his op-ed.
Earlier, on January 26, he had hinted at introducing toll stations on several roads including Museum Hill-Moyale, Sirare-Lowdar, Mombasa to Malaba and Kiambu roads.
Other roads were the Athi River-Namanga Road and Galleria-Rongai-Ngong-Karen Shopping Centre to raise funds for road repairs.
