Nairobi, Feb. 1 -- Motorists will pay a traffic congestion charge and companies hit with a new tax for every tonne of carbon emitted from their plants if a government proposal to protect the environment is adopted.

The Treasury disclosed plans for the daily variable toll in a policy document made public on Tuesday in the race to ease traffic snarl-ups and air pollution.

Under the plan, the State is seeking the introduction of a congestion charge- a fee charged on cars driven in zones marked as heavy traffic areas such as the central business district.

Companies, especially manufacturing plants, face a fresh carbon tax to encourage them to cut emissions.

Kenya will follow in the footsteps of major cities that have introduced or are on ...