“Sifuna Slams KeNHA’s Proposal to Toll Thika Superhighway: ‘You Can’t Charge Us for Using It!'”

Edwin Sifuna, the Senator for Nairobi County, has publicly criticized the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) for its suggestion that toll fees should be implemented on major roads that are already in use throughout the country. He expressed his disbelief and concern over this proposal on his X platform, formerly known as Twitter, last Tuesday.

Sifuna questioned the rationale behind imposing toll fees on infrastructures financed by the citizens of Kenya. He also committed to demanding that KeNHA officials appear before the Senate to provide detailed explanations about their new policy proposals.

In a specific statement, Sifuna said, “I don’t know how @KeNHA Kenya justifies the proposal to start tolling roads built by taxpayer money years ago.” He further recommended that if the authorities wish to introduce toll charges, they should focus on constructing new roadways for which tolls could legitimately be charged.

In a more detailed critique, he mentioned, “Build new toll roads mchukue pesa, but you can’t start charging us for using Thika road bwana! Wacha tumalize na Kawira niwaite pale Senate mjieleze.” This statement illustrates his strong opposition to the proposal and his intention to challenge it vigorously.

On the same Tuesday, KeNHA made an announcement that introduced the possibility of Kenyans needing to pay toll fees for the use of certain roads, contingent on the approval of the Road Tolling Policy, which is currently under discussion. The proposed list for toll collection includes several significant routes such as the Thika Superhighway, Nairobi Southern Bypass, Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway, Kenol-Sagana-Marua Road, Mombasa Southern Bypass, and the newly inaugurated Dongo Kundu Bypass.

These roads are integral to the nation’s infrastructure and have been fully financed by taxpayer money, raising concerns among citizens and legislators alike regarding the fairness and justification of introducing toll fees on them.