Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said Kenya has a Ksh78 billion road maintenance deficit.
Speaking during a public participation forum on Monday, July 8, 2024, Murkomen observed that there had been a significant increase in road infrastructure from 2016 when the road network covered 166,451 kilometres to 239,122 kilometres in 2024.
“As a country, we are grappling with a maintenance deficit of Sh78 billion this financial year alone. With the current trend, it is projected that by the financial year 2028/2029, this financing gap will rise to Sh315 billion,” Murkomen said.
The public participation exercise kicked off at the Ministry of Transport headquarters in the counties of Nairobi, Nyeri, Eldoret, Nakuru, Isiolo, Machakos, Kisumu, Garissa, and Mombasa.
Murkomen on levy review
The CS noted that the road maintenance levy of Ksh18 per litre of diesel and petrol, which has been in place for the last eight years, would need a review if the deficit is to be plugged.
He added that most of the roads targeted by the planned maintenance are abandoned roads are under the low volume seal programme which have never been maintained in the last ten years and are on the verge of being wiped away altogether.
“From the views we have received, many Kenyans are worried that an increase in the levy will result in a rise in the cost of living. With this in mind, we will analyse the reports received on email and social media platforms as well as the submissions made today, and come up with a decision that corresponds with the recommendations from the public,” Murkomen added.
He assured Kenyans that the Transport Ministry would ensure the revenue measures adopted in the collection of road maintenance levy would not increase the cost of living.
“We will explore ways of getting the resources we need to maintain roads, as expressed by Kenyans in their numbers, without raising the cost of living through an increase in petroleum prices,” the CS assured.
Earlier, the Kenya Roads Board suggested that the road maintenance levy be reviewed upwards by Ksh7 to Ksh25 from the current Ksh18 per litre of diesel or petrol.
In June 2024, Murkomen urged parliament to approve the 39 per cent increase on the levy to help his ministry sustain the increase in road maintenance needs and maintenance resources.
“The cost of goods will go up when roads are not in good condition. We are requesting more funds to ensure roads are built and maintained, and we call on Parliament to support our proposals,” Murkomen urged MPs. Before you go…how about joining our vibrant Telegram and WhatsApp channels for hotter stories? Telegram: Telegram Channel WhatsApp: WhatsApp Channel