Ndindi Nyoro Says Kenyans Should Not Pay Twice for Public Roads

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has strongly opposed the proposed introduction of toll charges on some of the country’s major roads, arguing that Kenyans should not be forced to pay twice for infrastructure already built using public funds.

Speaking during a public forum, Nyoro questioned the logic behind charging motorists to use roads that were financed through taxpayers’ money. 

He said citizens contribute to road construction and maintenance through fuel levies, taxes, and other statutory deductions, and it would be unfair to impose additional costs on them.

According to the lawmaker, roads are public goods meant to benefit all citizens equally. 

He warned that introducing toll fees on highways constructed with public resources would place extra financial pressure on ordinary Kenyans who are already struggling with the high cost of living.

Nyoro explained that while toll roads may be justified in cases where private investors build newhighways under clear agreements, the situation is different when the infrastructure was funded directly by the government.

In such cases, he said, the public has already paid for the project through taxes.

The MP also raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the proposed tolling plans.

He called on the government to clearly explain which roads would be affected, how the toll fees would be structured, and how the money collected would be used.

Without proper communication, he warned, the move could trigger public dissatisfaction.

He further argued that adding toll charges could increase the cost of transport and, eventually, the price of goods and services.

Transporters, he noted, are likely to pass the additional expense on to consumers, making basic commodities more expensive.

Nyoro emphasized that development should not come at the expense of fairness.

He said leaders must find solutions that balance infrastructure expansion with the economic realities facing citizens.