Kefa Seda, Director General of the Public‑Private Partnerships Directorate, reiterated that the proposed Ksh8 per kilometre toll on the Rironi‑Mau Summit Highway is a fee for road use, not a tax, after motorists raised concerns of double taxation.

Seda explained that taxes are compulsory payments enforced by law and apply to the general public, whereas tolls are charged only when a driver uses a specific road service and can be avoided by taking alternative routes.

Under Kenyan law, a road must first be gazetted before it can become a toll road; once gazetted, the road ceases to receive allocations from the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).

Seda added that toll revenue is intended to recover the capital investment and ongoing maintenance costs of the highway, which is a Ksh200 billion project.

The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) had challenged the Ksh8/km tariff before the PPP Petition Committee, seeking disclosure of tolling plans, feasibility studies and public participation reports.

The committee dismissed COFEK’s petition, noting that the filing was submitted after the seven‑day statutory deadline set by the Public‑Private Partnerships Act.

COFEK’s objections centred on the lack of clarity regarding toll charge calculations, availability of alternative routes, affordability for motorists and the allocation of financial risks.