PPP Boss Responds to Double Taxation Claims Over Proposed Rironi-Mau Summit Highway Toll Charges

The Director General of the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Directorate, Kefa Seda, has defended the proposed KSh 8 per kilometre toll charges on the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway amid growing concerns from Kenyans who fear the new fees could amount to double taxation.

Seda addressed the concerns on Saturday, November 7, 2026, explaining that toll charges are different from taxes because motorists only pay when they use a specific road designated for toll collection.

His clarification followed public criticism from a Kenyan who questioned why motorists should pay additional fees to use the highway despite already contributing to the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF), which supports road maintenance across the country.

The concerned Kenyan argued that introducing toll charges would force motorists to pay twice for road infrastructure, raising questions about the fairness of the proposed arrangement.

Responding to the criticism, Seda explained that taxes are compulsory payments imposed by the government, while toll fees are charges imposed on people who choose to access specific road services.

“Tax is a compulsory extraction enforceable by law, while a toll is a fee charged for consuming a road service,” Seda stated.

He further explained that motorists would not be forced to use the proposed toll road because alternative routes would remain available for those who do not wish to pay.

“Therefore, tax is compulsory and applicable to the general public, while for tolls you only pay when you use the road and you can also avoid paying by using other alternative routes,” he added.

The PPP director also clarified how the government intends to handle funding for roads designated for toll collection. According to Seda, a road must first be officially gazetted before it can operate as a toll road.

Once the gazettement process is completed, the road ceases to receive allocations from the Road Maintenance Levy Fund. Instead, the revenue collected from motorists is expected to recover the capital investment made during construction and cover ongoing maintenance expenses.

“For a road to be tolled, there has to be a gazettement. Once gazetted, it ceases to benefit from RMLF allocation, as the receivables from toll fees are deemed to be used to recover capital investment and maintenance costs,” Seda explained.

The debate comes as the government advances plans for the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway, a major infrastructure project connecting Nairobi and Nakuru counties. The project, estimated to cost approximately KSh 200 billion, is expected to improve transport along one of Kenya’s busiest road corridors.

However, the proposed toll charges have attracted opposition from the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK), which challenged the KSh 8 per kilometre tariff before the PPP Petition Committee.

COFEK sought to compel the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to release important project documents, including feasibility studies, procurement records, public participation reports and detailed tolling plans.

The organisation also questioned how the proposed charges were calculated, whether motorists would have access to suitable alternative routes and how financial risks associated with the project would be shared.

Despite these concerns, the PPP Petition Committee dismissed COFEK’s petition after determining that it had been filed outside the seven-day statutory deadline provided under the Public Private Partnerships Act.

The dismissal did not resolve the broader public concerns surrounding the proposed tolling arrangement, particularly regarding affordability and transparency.

As discussions over the highway project continue, motorists will be keen to understand how the proposed charges will affect their travel expenses and whether alternative routes will provide practical options for those seeking to avoid toll payments.

Patrick's_Newshub feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com