Public Roads Toll Act

LAWS OF KENYA
THE PUBLIC ROADS TOLL ACT
CAP. 407
Revised and published by the National Council for Law Reporting
with the authority of the Attorney-General as gazetted by the Government Printer
www.kenyalaw.org

Kenya
Public Roads Toll Act
Cap. 407
Legislation as at 17 May 2024
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Share widely and freely.

Public Roads Toll Act (Cap. 407)
Contents
1. Short title ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Interpretation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3. Toll stations, etc. ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
4. Appointment of toll collectors ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
4A. Agreements for road management ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
4B.

................................................................................................................................................ 3
4B.

Levying of tolls pursuant to agreement .............................................................................................................................................. 3
5. Levying of tolls ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
6. Receipts to be issued and records to be kept ...................................................................................................................................... 4
6A. Establishment of Fund ............................................................................................................................................................................... 4
7. [Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2007, Sch.] ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
8. Offences and penalties ................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
9.

................................................................................................................................................. 4
9.

Rules .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
10. Offences cognisable ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
11. Power to exempt .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
FIRST SCHEDULE [s. 3] ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
SECOND SCHEDULE [s. 5] ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

.................................................................................................................................................... 6

Public Roads Toll Act (Cap. 407) Kenya
PUBLIC ROADS TOLL ACT
CAP. 407
Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. LXXXVI—No. 30 on 20 July 1984
Assented to on 12 July 1984
Commenced on 1 August 1984 by Public Roads Toll Act Commencement
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of Second Schedule)
Order, 1984 (Legal Notice 152 of 1984) on 21 September 1984]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments)
(No. 2) Act, 1984 (Act No. 19 of 1984) on 28 December 1984]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of First Schedule), 1985 (Legal Notice 119 of 1985) on 14 June 1985]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of First
Schedule), 1986 (Legal Notice 208 of 1986) on 29 August 1986]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 1986 (Act No.

Amendment of First
Schedule), 1986 (Legal Notice 208 of 1986) on 29 August 1986]
[Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 1986 (Act No.

18 of 1986) on 30 December 1986]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of Second Schedule)
Order, 1987 (Legal Notice 161 of 1987) on 26 June 1987]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of the First
Schedule), 1987 (Legal Notice 162 of 1987) on 26 June 1987]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll Act Amendment, 1988 (Legal Notice 522 of 1988) on 28 November 1988]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment) Act , 1989 (Legal Notice 209 of 1989) on 23 June 1989]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of Second Schedule)
Order, 1989 (Legal Notice 429 of 1989) on 1 January 1990]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll Act Amendment (Legal Notice 63 of 1990) on 2 February 1990]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll Act Amendment (Legal Notice 425 of 1990) on 5 October 1990]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of Second Schedule)
Order, 1991 (Legal Notice 479 of 1991) on 1 October 1991]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of Second Schedule)
Order, 1992 (Legal Notice 260 of 1992) on 9 October 1992]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Revocation of First Schedule)
Order, 1994 (Legal Notice 199 of 1994) on 17 June 1994]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (First Schedule) Order, 1994 (Legal Notice 273 of 1994) on 19 August 1994]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of Second Schedule)
Order, 1994 (Legal Notice 274 of 1994) on 19 August 1994]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of Second Schedule)
Order, 1995 (Legal Notice 305 of 1995) on 1 September 1995]
[Amended by Kenya Roads Act (Cap.

nded by Public Roads Toll (Amendment of Second Schedule)
Order, 1995 (Legal Notice 305 of 1995) on 1 September 1995]
[Amended by Kenya Roads Act (Cap.

408) on 7 September 2007]
[Amended by Public Private Partnerships Act (Act No. 15 of 2013) on 22 February 2013]
[Amended by Finance Act, 2020 (Act No. 8 of 2020) on 30 June 2020]
[Revised by 24th Annual Supplement (Legal Notice 221 of 2023) on 31 December 2022]
[Amended by Public Roads Toll Act-Amendment (Legal Notice 87 of 2024) on 17 May 2024]
An Act of Parliament to provide for the collection of tolls on public roads; to establish a Public Roads
Toll Fund; and for connected purposes
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Public Roads Toll Act. 2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
1

ed purposes
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Public Roads Toll Act. 2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
1

Public Roads Toll Act (Cap. 407) Kenya
"base toll rate" means the unit rate prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary under section 4A for the
calculation of applicable tolls;
"Cabinet Secretary" means the Cabinet Secretary for the time being responsible for matters relating to
roads;
“commercial vehicle” has the meaning assigned to it in the Traffic Act (Cap. 403);
"Fund" means the National Roads Toll Fund established under section 6A;
“heavy goods vehicle” means a commercial vehicle whose tare weight exceeds seven thousand kilograms;
and includes semi-trailers and draw bar trailers irrespective of their nominal weight;
“light goods vehicle” means a commercial vehicle whose tare weight does not exceed four thousand
kilogrammes;
“matatu” means a public service vehicle having seating accommodation for not more than twenty-five
passengers exclusive of the driver; but does not include a motor car;
“medium goods vehicle” means a commercial vehicle whose tare weight does not exceed seven thousand
kilogrammes;
“motor car” and “motor omnibus” have the meanings respectively assigned to those terms in the Traffic
Act (Cap.

not exceed seven thousand
kilogrammes;
“motor car” and “motor omnibus” have the meanings respectively assigned to those terms in the Traffic
Act (Cap.

403);
"roads Authority" means any of the authorities established under the Kenya Roads Act (Cap. 408);
“toll” means the charges prescribed in the Second Schedule leviable pursuant to this Act;
“toll collector” means a public toll collector appointed under section 4 and includes a private toll collector
appointed under section 4B;
"toll road" means a public road or a portion thereof which has been declared a toll road under subsection
3(1);
“toll station” means a structure on a toll road where toll is payable under this Act or any electrical or
mechanical device on a toll road for recording the liability to pay toll, or any combination of such structure
or device;
“vehicle” includes a motor vehicle, a trailer and any other conveyance used on a road; but does not include
a bicycle, motor cycle, and an animal or human powered wheeled cart or an agricultural tractor which is
not towing a trailer, whether it is laden or not. [Act No. 19 of 1984, Sch., Act No. 2 of 2007, Sch., Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 24.]
3. Toll stations, etc. (1) The Cabinet Secretary may declare any public road or a portion thereof, including any bridge or
tunnel on a public road, as a toll road for purposes of this Act.

Secretary may declare any public road or a portion thereof, including any bridge or
tunnel on a public road, as a toll road for purposes of this Act.

(1A) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a private toll collector shall only levy toll and collect monies
payable on a public toll road constructed under an agreement entered into under section 4A. (2) The stations specified in the first column of the First Schedule are declared to be transit toll
stations for the public roads respectively set out in the second column. (2A) The Cabinet Secretary may by Order published in the Gazette amend the First Schedule. (3) The Cabinet Secretary shall provide equipment, buildings or structures and installations including
permanent or movable weighbridges necessary for the proper functioning of a toll station. (4) Special areas may be designated as toll stations through which different types of vehicles shall pass
and each toll station shall be conspicuously signposted in Kiswahili and English. 2

toll stations through which different types of vehicles shall pass
and each toll station shall be conspicuously signposted in Kiswahili and English. 2

Public Roads Toll Act (Cap. 407) Kenya
(5) The toll in respect of every vehicle approaching and proceeding through a toll station shall be paid
to the toll collector in such manner as may be prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary. (6) The prescribed abstract of this Act and the rules shall be conspicuously exhibited in Kiswahili and
English at every toll station. [Act No. 2 of 2007, Sch., Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 25.]
4. Appointment of toll collectors
(1) The Cabinet Secretary shall appoint toll collectors who shall collect tolls at toll stations and
perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary for the purpose of this Act. (2) Every toll station shall have a station manager appointed by the Cabinet Secretary. 4A. Agreements for road management
(1) The Cabinet Secretary, or a roads Authority, may enter into an agreement with a suitably qualified
person to plan, design, construct and manage a public road or any portion thereof which has been
declared to be a toll road for the purposes of this Act.

son to plan, design, construct and manage a public road or any portion thereof which has been
declared to be a toll road for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A person authorized under subsection (1) shall carry out the activity for which he is authorized
subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified in the agreement. (3) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 26(a). (4) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 26(b). (5) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 26(c). [Act No. 2 of 2007, Sch., Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 26.]
4B. Levying of tolls pursuant to agreement
(1) A person with whom the Cabinet Secretary or a roads agency enters into an agreement pursuant
to section 4A shall be entitled to levy toll, and collect moneys payable as toll on such toll road, or
portion thereof, for his or her own account during the said period, and may for that purpose erect a
toll station or toll stations and facilities in connection therewith, including permanent and movable
weighbridges, on the toll road or portion of thereof:
Provided that the agreement may prescribe alternative arrangements for the levying, collection and
administration of tolls and management of toll infrastructure.

at the agreement may prescribe alternative arrangements for the levying, collection and
administration of tolls and management of toll infrastructure.

(2) The person referred to in subsection (1) shall only be entitled to levy toll in accordance with the
agreement with the Cabinet Secretary or the roads agency and the amount of such toll shall be
subject to approval by the Cabinet Secretary:
Provided that the Cabinet Secretary may prescribe the base toll rate in the agreement and permit
the person referred to in subsection (1) to adjust, vary or otherwise revise the toll in accordance
with an adjustment mechanism provided in the agreement. (3) The Cabinet Secretary shall notify all tolls approved under subsection (2) in the Gazette. (4) The person referred to in subsection (1) shall be entitled to appoint toll collectors and station
managers in respect of the toll road in respect of which there is an agreement subject to the terms
of such agreement. (5) The person shall maintain a record of the payment of tolls and submit it to the Cabinet Secretary or
road agency, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the agreement. [Act No. 2 of 2007, Sch., Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 27.]
3

et Secretary or
road agency, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the agreement. [Act No. 2 of 2007, Sch., Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 27.]
3

Public Roads Toll Act (Cap. 407) Kenya
5. Levying of tolls
(1) Tolls, other than those to be levied at Mtwapa Bridge and the New Nyali Bridge, shall be levied in
accordance with the rates prescribed in Part I of the Second Schedule. (2) Tolls for Mtwapa Bridge and the New Nyali Bridge shall be levied in accordance with the rates
prescribed in Part II of the Second Schedule. (3) The Cabinet Secretary may, by order published in the Gazette, amend the Second Schedule. (4) Every order made under subsection (3) shall be laid before the Cabinet. [Act No. 2 of 2007, Sch., Act No. 15 of 2013, s. 77.]
6. Receipts to be issued and records to be kept
(1) A receipt or ticket in the prescribed form shall be issued on the payment of a toll. (2) A record of the payment of tolls shall be maintained at every toll station and the station manager
shall make and submit or cause to be made and submitted to the Cabinet Secretary monthly returns
of the payment in the prescribed form. 6A. Establishment of Fund
(1) The Cabinet Secretary responsible for the National Treasury shall establish a Fund to be known as
the National Roads Toll Fund under the Public Finance Management Act (Cap. 412A).

ible for the National Treasury shall establish a Fund to be known as
the National Roads Toll Fund under the Public Finance Management Act (Cap. 412A).

(2) All tolls, except transit tolls, collected by the persons appointed under section 4 shall be remitted to
the Fund. (3) The purpose of the Fund shall be to provide funds for the—
(a) proper functioning of toll roads and toll stations; and
(b) development, repair or maintenance of roads as the Cabinet Secretary may direct, taking into
account regional balancing. (4) The Fund shall be administered in accordance with section 24 of the Public Finance Management
Act (Cap. 412A), and the regulations made thereunder. [Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 28.]
7. [Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2007, Sch.]
8. Offences and penalties
(1) Any person who—
(a) drives a vehicle through a toll station except by the route designated for the passage of that
vehicle; or
(b) refuses to stop a vehicle at a toll station and to pay the toll; or
(c) fraudulently or forcibly drives a vehicle through a toll station without paying the toll,
commits an offence and shall upon conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand
shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

d shall upon conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand
shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

(2) In addition to the penalty under subsection (1) the court shall order the offender to pay the
prescribed toll where the offence is one of failing to pay the toll. 4

the penalty under subsection (1) the court shall order the offender to pay the
prescribed toll where the offence is one of failing to pay the toll. 4

Public Roads Toll Act (Cap. 407) Kenya
(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), the person with whom the Cabinet Secretary enters
into an agreement under section 4A may collect the unpaid tolls from defaulters as a civil debt
recoverable summarily. [Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 29.]
9. Rules
The Cabinet Secretary may make rules generally for the better carrying into effect the provisions of this
Act and may, by those rules, prescribe anything which under this Act may be prescribed. 10. Offences cognisable
Offences under this Act shall be cognisable to the police. [Act No. 19 of 1984, Sch.]
11. Power to exempt
The Cabinet Secretary may, by notice in the Gazette, exempt any vehicle or any class or classes or
description of vehicles from all or any of the provisions of this Act. [Act No. 19 of 1984, Sch.]
FIRST SCHEDULE [s. 3]
TRANSIT TOLL STATIONS
(L.N. 119/1985, L.N. 208/1986, L.N. 162/1987, L.N. 522/1988, L.N. 209/1989, L.N. 63/1990, L.N. 425/1990, L.N. 199/1994, L.N. 273/1994)
All border stations scheduled under the Customs and Excise Act (Repealed) and the following:
Location Public Road
1. Busia (Kenya) Road B1
2. Amagoro (Malaba) Road A104
3. Isebania Road A1
4.

ustoms and Excise Act (Repealed) and the following:
Location Public Road
1. Busia (Kenya) Road B1
2. Amagoro (Malaba) Road A104
3. Isebania Road A1
4.

Namanga Road A104
5. Lunga Lunga Road A14
6. Taveta Road A23
7. Lokichokio Road A1
5

Public Roads Toll Act (Cap. 407) Kenya
8. Liboi Road A3
9. Mariakani Road A109
10. Athi River Road A104
11. Gilgil Road A104
12. Moyale Road A2
13. Mandera Road B9
14. Lodwar Road A1
15. Garissa Road A3
16 Isiolo Road A2
SECOND SCHEDULE [s. 5]
TOLLS
[L.N. 152/1984, L.N. 161/1987, L.N. 429/1989, L.N. 479/1991,
L.N. 260/1992, L.N. 274/1994, L.N. 305/1995., L.N. 87/2024, Sch.]
RATE OF TOLL TO BE CHARGED
FOR A SINGLE JOURNEY
Transit Traffic To and From*
CATEGORY OF VEHICLE
Tanzania US$/100 km Other P.T.A./COMESA
Countries US$/100 km.
Rigid chassis with up to 3 axles without a
trailer..............
6.00 6.00
Heavy goods vehicles with more than 3 axles and
all articulated vehicles ....................
10.00 10.00
6

Public Roads Toll Act (Cap. 407) Kenya
All buses ................. 5.00 5.00
*1. Vehicles bearing Kenyan registration are for the time being exempted
2. All articulated vehicles consisting of a combination of either Kenyan head with foreign
registered head shall be deemed to be wholly foreign registered and the respective toll
rates shall apply.
7