Road and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has explained the reasons behind the increase in charges for using the Nairobi Expressway.
In a statement on X, Murkomen explained that the government had not increased the rates by 50% as claimed by Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi.
According to the CS, the new rates announced on Monday, January 1, represented a 38% increase which was due to changes in exchange rates.
“First the increase is not 50%,” Murkomen said in a post responding to Atandi’s concerns.
“If you take the maximum increase, which is from Ksh.360 to Ksh.500 you will get a difference of Ksh.140. If you divide Ksh.140 by Ksh.360 and multiply it by Ksh.100 you will get 38.89%.”
In his statement, CS Murkomen noted that the last adjustment was done when one dollar was exchanging at Ksh.113.14 as opposed to the current Ksh.157.
As such, he affirmed that the increase was proportional, and that the adjustment was done based on the Project Agreement.
“Using the same method i.e Khs.157 minus Ksh.113 which is equal to Ksh.44. Divide Ksh.44 by Ksh.113 and multiply by 100% and you will get 38.9 %,” he said.
Considerations Before Increase-Murkomen
Further in his statement, Murkomen said the government considered the depreciation of the Kenyan Shilling to the United States dollar since the time of gazettement of the Toll Rates in April 2022.
“The formula for computing the new rates is already embedded in the agreement taking into account the loan facility by the investor which was borrowed using USD,” stated Murkomen.
Furthermore, Murkomen said both the ministry and the government of Kenya have no discretion but to follow the agreement as established in 2021.
“The good thing about express way is first that the government of Kenya did not give traffic volume guarantee otherwise the taxpayer would now be paying a lot from the interest accrued and inflation plus the difference unmet by less traffic flow,” he explained.
Notably, he said the consumer has alternative route which is not tolled.
Also Read: Expressway Announces New Increased Charges
Expressway New Charges
According to the notice published by Moja Expressway, motorists moving from Mlolongo to Westlands will now pay Ksh.500 up from the previous Ksh360.
“From Mlolongo to Westlands, one will have to pay Ksh500 for Manual Toll Collection (MTC). However, for those using the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) will pay Ksh490,” noted Moja Expressway.
In addition, motorists exiting at the Southern Bypass from Mlolongo will pay Ksh.330 up from the current Ksh.210.
Also Read: Nairobi Expressway Design to be Changed – Murkomen
On the other hand, vehicles exiting at Capital Center and Haile Selassie stations will pay Ksh.410 up from Ksh210.
Additionally, road users exiting at the Museum Hill, The Mall and Nairobi Westland’s terminus from Mlolongo will have to part with Ksh.500 up from Ksh310.
Shorter routes from Syokimau to the SGR station, as well as those from the SGR and JKIA stations to the Eastern Bypass, will cost motorists Ksh.170, an increase from Ksh.100.
