President William Ruto’s government intends to spend KSh 394 billion over the next five years on the construction, repair, and improvement of highways. Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen speaks during the launch of KeNHA’s five-year strategic plan. This comes in the wake of tight financial constraints, which have seen the National Treasury reduce the overall budget for roads in recent allocations. How much will dualling of Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit cost? The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) said in its 2023-2027 five-year strategic plan that a significant portion of this funding – KSh 192.5 billion, would go toward improving important highways, including the dualling of the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit. It would cost KSh 117 billion to build all the new roads, including the ones that have already been begun. The State agency plans to repair roads in poor condition at a cost of KSh 84.5 billion, raising the total amount spent on road projects to KSh 394 billion. Due to the government’s risk of debt distress, it will partner with the private sector to construct major highways. Which roads will be tolled? KeNHA will raise money for building three toll roads during the review period, 2023–2027, including the dualling of the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit, for which KeNHA would finance to the tune of KSh 35 billion. The road construction agency intends to mobilise KSh 12.5 billion for the Mau Summit-Malaba segment, notwithstanding the government’s silence over the identity of the new contractor for the dual carriageway project, which would build the Northern Corridor. National Treasury stated that the 473-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway has been given first-stage sanction for development. It was allocated KSh 25 billion. A public-private partnership strategy will also be used to build the toll road. The Kula-Mawe-Modogashe road would cost KSh 11.6 billion to build, and the Isiolo-Kula-Mawe route would cost another KSh 9.98 billion. What will be the toll charges? According to KeNHA, owners of saloon cars will pay KSh 6 per kilometre to access Rironi-Mau Summit Road, while heavy commercial vehicles will pay up to KSh 24. A motorist driving a saloon car for 175 kilometres between Rironi and Mau Summit would pay KSh 1,050. However, KeNHA noted that the toll tariff was based on a past study and was still being refined before they got to the final charge.
by Japhet Ruto