Overloading of transit vehicles on the country’s major roads has witnessed a major decline with compliance rates standing at 98 percent, according to the Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA).
The drop has been attributed to stiff penalties on driver found breaking the law according to the authority.
This came as the authority identified liftable axles as a major challenge and mainly involves trucks headed to neighbouring countries.
According to Danka Africa Kenya Limited, the company contracted by Kenha to manage the Gilgil and Suswa weighbridges, the number of overloaded trucks on the road was on the decline.
The company’s manager in charge of Gilgil cluster, James Karanja said that last month, only six trucks drivers were arrested for overloading.
Karanja noted self-regulation by various transport companies had greatly helped in reducing overloading.
“Currently compliance rate among transit trucks stands at 98 percent and we are keen to make sure that we are done with this menace of overloading,” he said.
Speaking at the Gilgil Weighbridge, Karanja explained that by lifting one axle, truck drivers were carrying more load than allowed by the law.
He reminded those found breaking the law tat they risked a fine of $15,000 or a three-year jail term.
“We have seen several cases where drivers are tampering with the axles so that they can carry more load and we are closing in on them,” he said.
Karanja said they other challenge they are currently facing is from sad harvesters in Mai Mahiu noting that many of the trucks were overloading but use undesignated routes to evade the weighbridge on the Mai Mahiu-Narok road.
“There are so many exit and entry points for sand harvesters along the road and transporters are using this to overload their vehicles,” he said.
