Kenyans may face increased fuel costs after the government’s proposal to increase the road maintenance levy by Ksh.7 per litre.

According to the report tabled by Finance Committee chair Kuria Kimani on the Finance Bill, 2024, the levy has not been amended since 2017, despite the fact that fuel costs have risen in recent years.

“To help raise sufficient funds to maintain and repair roads across the country the Committee recommends an increase of the Levy pursuant to Section 3 of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund Act from KES 18 to KES 25 per litre all petroleum fuels,” reads part of the committee’s report.

The road maintenance levy is a levy imposed at the pump that funds the operation and maintenance of the country’s road network.

Increasing the RML means Kenyans will have to pay more for fuel at a time when they are already struggling with high living costs.

The levy is deposited into the Road Maintenance Levy Fund for annual repair and maintenance of roads over the years. The committee observed there has been an increased cost of road repair and maintenance.

The fall in the collections under the road maintenance levy has continued to affect the repair and maintenance of highways, urban, and rural roads. Recent El Nino linked heavy rains and flooding has further worsened the extent of road destruction in the country.

The construction of Thwake Dam is on track for completion by December 10, 2024, following the final filling of its embankment area.

Zachariah Njeru, Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, witnessed the closure of the embankment area and noted that the dam filling is expected to span approximately two normal rainy seasons.

The completion of the embankment sets the stage for various downstream activities that will revolutionize water supply, power generation, and agricultural irrigation in the Ukambani region.

Currently, ongoing civil works and related activities for the dam are progressing, with overall completion standing at 93.63%, slightly ahead of the scheduled 92.77%.

The first phase of the project involves constructing an 80.5-meter Concrete Face Rockfill Dam (CFRD) with a storage capacity of 688 million cubic meters.

This phase, with a budget of Kes.36.97 billion, is nearing finalization, with the embankment already 99% filled.

The second phase will focus on developing water supply, sanitation, and wastewater infrastructure, providing 150,000 cubic meters of treated water daily to approximately 1.3 million people in Kitui, Makueni, and Konza Techno City in Machakos County.

Phases three and four of the Thwake Dam project will include installing a hydropower system with a 20 MW capacity and developing an irrigation scheme covering 40,000 hectares.

CS Njeru said the project has generated more than 1,200 local jobs and enhanced transportation networks through road upgrades.

Moreover, the initiative has reportedly had a positive impact on land values in the region, leading to heightened interest in real estate and business ventures that are anticipated to bolster economic growth even further.

Members of the public, political and human rights activists in Mombasa came out, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, to protest against the contentious Finance Bill 2024.

This follows prior protests in Nairobi on Tuesday, with Kenyans calling for the total rejection of the entire bill, rejecting amendments announced by the government on June 18.

Videos and images circulated on Wednesday across various social media platforms have shown police officers in Mombasa engaging protestors in running battles.

The residents braved the morning rain to air their dissatisfaction with the bill while chanting anti-government slogans.

Security officers could be seen hurling teargas canisters to disperse angered Kenyans who turned out in numbers to voice their grievances against the rising cost of living and punitive tax proposal contained in the bill.

The Mombasa demos follow a planned anti-Finance Bill 2024 itinerary with subsequent demonstrations to follow on June 20, 2024, in Kisumu, Laikipia, Eldoret, and Nakuru.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has cautioned Kenyans against the use of the word ‘tugeges‘ to describe people that support a certain political side. 

In a statement on Tuesday, June 18, NCIC chairman Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia said that it was wrong to use the word, maintaining that it demeans and dehumanizes people.

“The use of words such as ‘tugeges‘ to describe people who support a certain political side is wrong. This word is hurtful, demeans, and dehumanizes people. It is important that we stop using this and any other abusive words to describe fellow Kenyans,” Rev. Kobia stated.

Tugeges is a Kikuyu word that has been used to refer to people who are ignorant or dumb. The term became popular in the run-up to the 2022 polls.

According to Rev. Kobia, the nation had already survived many setbacks, but the tongue was capable of bringing it down.

“We may have survived the pandemic, floods, locusts, and many other perils but if we don’t tame our tongues we will sure burn our great nation down,” he added. 

The NCIC chairman further remarked that social media was a powerful tool that could be used to fuel ethnic violence through hate speech, pointing out that the commission had already flagged 95 cases of hate speech.

He noted that the X platform was leading with 72 cases, adding that such misuse of social media was illegal and showed the inner thoughts of individuals who wanted to spread hate.

Rev. Kobia said the commission was committed to stopping hate speech, asserting that Kenyans and Kenya needed time to heal. 

“Hating another Kenyan, just because they come from a different area, will not make your own life better. You can’t rise from hate. We must all realize that together we can stand but apart as we are, we will fall,” Rev. Kobia remarked.