This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
Friday, November 19, 2021, marked a significant milestone in Kenya's transportation sector as the government tabled new regulations aimed at establishing the National Roads Toll Fund.
The Public Finance Management (National Road Toll Fund) Regulations 2021 seeks to implement the Public Roads Toll Act, Cap 407, which guides the imposition of toll fees on major national roads.
According to the regulations, the Transport Cabinet secretary has the power to declare any road or a portion thereof, including any bridge or tunnel on a public road, as a toll road.
The establishment of the tolling fund sets the stage for motorists to start paying for the use of certain roads, with the fees paid for the use of roads jointly developed by the government and private investors under the public-private partnership (PPP) model to be deposited into the fund.
The Treasury has asked MPs to approve the regulations to enable it to establish a fund into which toll fees and other charges will be paid.
The fund will receive fees or charges imposed on road users accessing toll roads with overloaded axles levied under the Kenya Roads (Kenya National Highways Authority) Regulations 2013, section 58 of the Traffic Act, and section 21 of the East African Community Vehicles Load Control Act, 2016.