Motorists Association opposes hiking of road maintenance levy

By Peter Ochieng

The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) have spoken against the government's move to hike the road maintenance and fuel levy.

Over the weekend, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) raised the levies from Sh18 to Sh25 per litre, an increase of Sh7.

While reacting to the increase, MAK termed it illegal and unconstitutional, since it was not subjected to public participation. “MAK is opposed to the mid-July to August fuel prices where the road maintenance and fuel levy has been escalated from Sh18 per litre to Sh25 per litre despite submitted objections from the stakeholders and the general public,” MAK stated.

According to the road maintenance and fuel levy audit, MAK said, no roads have been done or repaired with the funds collected in the last year. “The expansion of the road network from gravel and earth roads to bitumen from 161,451 Kilometers to 239, 122 Kilometers in the last 10 years today has reduced regular expensive grading significantly since bitumen requires little to no maintenance. Fuel pump prices should be Sh7 cheaper now, something the EPRA has failed to do.”

Despite the increment of the levy, fuel prices dropped by Sh1 for petrol, Sh1.50 for diesel and Sh1.30 for kerosine.

President William Ruto speaking in Nakuru defended the increment, despite opposition from Kenyans. "Whatever we are doing in building new roads, and repairing existing roads does not translate to more money being paid by Kenyans. As a government, we have done a good thing, we have made sure that on the issue of fuel levy, we have gotten enough resources to cater for all the roads that need attention and those that have stalled to enhance transport.”

"We have also ensured that the matter of fuel levy does not affect Kenyans. The price at the pump continues to go down," he added.

Ruto maintained that it is necessary to increase the levy to increase the revenue for maintaining roads across the country.