Belgut MP Koech defends govt borrowing amid rising public debt concerns
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, May 11, 2026Belgut Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Defence Committee in the National Assembly, Nelson Koech, has defended the government’s continued borrowing and the fuel levy, arguing that the funds are critical in supporting infrastructure development across the country.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Monday, May 11, 2026, the Belgut MP has said that Kenya cannot avoid taking loans if it hopes to improve roads and other key infrastructure projects that are vital to economic growth.
“We cannot shy away from taking debt to be debt-free and have our roads in a bad state,” Koech stated.
The lawmaker argued that poor road networks have a direct negative impact on the economy, noting that motorists incur higher vehicle maintenance costs and fuel consumption due to damaged roads.
“What input does it have on the economy today if you are to drive on a bad road from here to Kisumu? The damage it gives to the car and the fuel that is consumed – it does more harm to the economy than doing the road,” he added.
Koech further defended the controversial fuel levy, maintaining that the charges collected are necessary to finance infrastructure projects that support trade, transport and connectivity across the country.
Fuel levy securitisation
Koech’s defence has come at a time when the National Treasury has proposed a 50 per cent reduction in the portion of the fuel levy that is earmarked for the Road Annuity Fund, a move that is expected to slightly ease fuel costs for motorists.
The proposal is contained in the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Road Maintenance Levy Fund Act (Cap. 427). Under the current law, a Ksh3 per litre fuel levy is directed to the Road Annuity Fund. The new bill proposes cutting this allocation to Ksh1.50 per litre.
The proposal comes at a time when a significant portion of the fuel levy has already been committed through securitisation. The government has already pledged Ksh12 per litre of the Ksh25-per-litre levy to raise Ksh300 billion in financing.
The first securitisation tranche was completed in February 2025, when Ksh7 per litre was used to raise Ksh175 billion aimed at clearing pending road sector bills.
A second tranche was later approved by the cabinet in November, involving Ksh5 per litre, expected to raise an additional Ksh125 billion for future contractor payments.