Lorry drivers block Murang'a-Mukuyu-Kenol rd over levy hike
Sand and stones transporters in Murang'a abandon their lorries in the middle of the road paralysing transport on the Murang'a-Mukuyu-Kenol rd over levy hike. PHOTO | NDUNG'U GACHANE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Joseph Musyoka, the chairman of the Transporters Association, said county increased levy from Sh500 to Sh1,000 per trip.
- Levy targets sand and building stones transporters.
Lorry drivers have blocked Murang’a-Mukuyu-Kenol rd in protest after the county doubled levy on sand and building stones transporters.
The lorry drivers abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the road near the county offices, demanding an audience with the governor. officials.
Mr Joseph Musyoka, the chairman of the Transporters Association, said they were irked by the county government’s decision to increase levies from Sh500 to Sh1,000 per trip without consulting them.
“This fee is too high for us and we are not going to pay until we have talks with the governor," Mr Musyoka said.
The chairman said despite their continuous payment of taxes to the county government, the roads have remained impassable occasioning them losses because of frequent break downs.
“We cannot be paying such huge amounts [of money] yet our working environment still remains poor. Instead of addressing our problems, they have been increased the levy,” said Mr Musyoka.
Efforts to get a comment from the Murang’a town administrator, Mr Jeremiah Mwirigi, after he failed to respond to phones and text messages.
But the county Roads minister, Mr Amos Njoroge, said they followed the law in revising the tariff.
