In a major policy reversal, the Kenyan government has decided to shelve its contentious plan to increase the Road Maintenance Levy by 39%, as announced by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
CS Murkomen addressed the media on Monday, revealing the extent of public engagement in this matter.
“I thank Kenyans across the country for turning up in large numbers to give their views on the maintenance of our roads,” he stated, acknowledging the diverse channels through which citizens voiced their concerns, including e-mail, social media platforms, and traditional handwritten submissions.
Proposed Levy Would Have Increased Fuel Price
The proposed increase, which would have seen the levy rise from Ksh.18 to Ksh.25 per liter of fuel, was initially put forward as a solution to address the growing road maintenance deficit in the country.
Murkomen elaborated on the scale of this challenge, saying,
“Kenya is currently facing a maintenance deficit of Ksh. 78 billion for the fiscal year 2024, with the figure expected to rise to Ksh. 315 billion by the fiscal year 2028/2029.”
This financial shortfall is attributed to the rapid expansion of Kenya’s road network, which has grown from 166,451 km in 2016 to an impressive 239,122 km currently.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasized the critical state of many roads, particularly those under the Low Volume Seal programme.
“Most of these abandoned roads are under the Low Volume Seal programme which have never been maintained in the last 10 years and are on the verge of being wiped away altogether,” he explained, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Despite these pressing needs, the government has shown responsiveness to public sentiment. Murkomen assured citizens,
“We will only make this decision when we are certain that any revenue measures adopted will not result in a rise in the cost of living.”
The Transport Ministry had previously advocated for the levy increase to the National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning Committee, arguing that the current rates, last reviewed in 2016, fail to account for inflation in road construction and maintenance costs.
However, faced with robust public opposition, the government is now exploring alternative funding mechanisms.
“The government is looking into alternative ways to secure the resources needed for road maintenance without raising petrol prices,” Murkomen stated, signaling a shift in approach. He further committed to a thorough review of all public responses, emphasizing that future decisions would be guided by the recommendations and concerns expressed by the citizenry.
Widespread Outcry Over Government Budget
This decision comes in the wake of widespread public outcry and the public participation process, which has led President Ruto to make drastic changes in his government, including scrapping the budget for the offices of first and second ladies.
