Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has strongly opposed the proposed tolling of key highways in Kenya, arguing that taxpayers should not bear an additional financial burden for roads they already fund through taxes.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Nyoro stated that the expansion of major roads, including the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway (Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit) and the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, should be fully funded by the government without imposing toll charges.
"It is not prudent to have a Kenyan who pays VAT, PAYE, and other taxes—and also contributes through the Fuel Levy for road maintenance—then be forced to pay toll fees to use a major corridor highway," Nyoro said.He emphasized that tolling major highways would hurt Kenya’s economy by increasing transportation costs and dampening the ease of doing business. Instead, he urged the government to prioritize internal resources for infrastructure projects rather than relying on alternative financing methods, such as workers’ savings from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
"We must optimize our internal resources to fund key projects instead of misusing workers' savings at NSSF to do what the government should be doing," he added.Nyoro’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the financing of major road projects in Kenya, with some proposals suggesting public-private partnerships (PPPs) and tolling as solutions.
His stance aligns with growing public concern over the potential economic impact of toll roads on businesses and ordinary citizens.
