Kenha tightens noose on rogue transporters

 

The Kenya National Highways Authority has put on notice transporters who overload their trucks and ruin the country’s highways.

Kenha Axle Load Assistant Director Michael Ngala on Friday said they have conducted a series of meetings with magistrates, litigants and police officers to explore legal ways of tackling overloading.

In the meetings, which were held in three coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi, Kenha met with about 15 coast-based magistrates, 30 litigants and top police officers.

They were enlightened on how to deal with cases of overloading and ensuring the cases are fast-tracked whenever they are taken to court.

They also discussed the East Africa Axle Load Control Act among other axle load statutes.

Ngala said Kenha wants enforcement of the laws relating to axle load followed.

“Self-compliance is the ultimate aim, but the courts need to pen maximum penalties to make it harder for rogue transporters to overload,” he said.

Ngala said swift application of the law by magistrates will enhance compliance while at the same time aid in facilitation of trade and finance in the country.

 “Courts play an important role in compliance, therefore, we urged the magistrates to expeditiously deal with axle load-related offenses,” he said.

Kenha will also sensitize the transporters as part of an inclusive approach to dealing with the menace of overloading on the Kenyan roads.

There has been an increase in the number of trucks on the roads, which are responsible for the destruction.

Kenha installed weighbridges to ensure they comply with the authorized axle load limit.

To reduce congestion at the weigh bridges, Kenha has installed high speed weigh-in motion and multi-deck scales in all the nine weigh bridges on the national road network.

At the Coast, Kenha has installed weigh bridges at Mariakani along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and at Mtwapa along the Mombasa- Malindi Highway.

According to Kenha, trucks owned by Kenyans are the worst over-loaders and are responsible for 30 per cent of destruction of road surfaces.

Transit trucks are now 99 per cent compliant and locally-owned trucks are at 70 per cent.

The worst offenders are transporters of sand, loose cargo and contractors.     BY THE STAR