William Ruto's Speech Vowing Not To Tax Motorists For Using Roads Surfaces Amid Expressway Drama

• Kenya's Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced a hike in the Nairobi Expressway toll charges
• The announcement led to the resurfacing of comments by President William Ruto criticising the previous government for the move
• Ruto had said charging Kenyans to use a public road was not the solution, and Kenyans put him on the spot

President William Ruto is taking a bashing on social media.

Why did Nairobi Expressway charges increase?

This is after his administration made a U-turn on a promise not to charge Kenyans to use the Nairobi Expressway.

The new toll rates approved by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have almost doubled the usual pay.

Motorists driving saloon cars will now part with KSh 170 compared to KSh 120 previously to use the Expressway.

Those shuttling between Westlands and Mlolongo will pay KSh 500 up from KSh 360.

Ruto had, in July 2022, during the heat of the campaigns, vowed not to charge motorists, saying the measure was punitive.

He had pledged to explore other ways to repay infrastructure loans, including implementing a tax on a raft of goods and services.

“You don’t charge people for using a road… We are going to deploy the highway to be available to as many people as possible so that we can remove all the spaces where there is taxation. Taxation will be taken to products, not the highway,” said Ruto.

The U-turn has seen Kenyans take to social media to vent their frustration at the State for burdening road users.

Ekuru Aukot:

"To justify the increase on the Expressway charges the government is quoting the depreciation of the shilling to the dollar. We all know the shilling depreciated by 21% last year.”

Mike:

"Where do they want us to go surely? These men's greed is worse than wolves!"

Robert Alai:

"Why are the Expressway rates being raised without any public participation?"

Joseph:

"Ruto's regime doesn't understand that if you impose higher taxes on a commodity, its demand reduces. They may not get the much-needed money on Expressway after increasing its fee because folks will come down to the main Mombasa Road."

When was Nairobi Expressway launched?

The 27-kilometer road was opened to the public in May 2022.

It was fully financed by the China Communications Construction Company through a public-private partnership model at a cost of KSh 88 billion.

Some sections of the Expressway are still under construction, with the exit into the central business district set to be completed by mid-January.