KeNHA under fire as MPs blame poor roads, bridges for accidents

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) came under intense scrutiny from MPs, who blamed the poor state of roads and bridges for the increasing number of fatal road accidents across the country.

Appearing before the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC), KeNHA officials were pressed to explain why key highways and bridges had been left to deteriorate despite receiving millions of shillings for road maintenance and development.

MPs said pothole-ridden highways and damaged bridges have turned many roads into death traps, exposing motorists, passengers and pedestrians to unnecessary risks.

They cited recent surge in fatal crashes accusing the authority of responding too slowly to damaged infrastructure, particularly during the rainy season when some bridges become impassable and roads are washed away.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera cited an incident last week where 14 people died in an accident along the narrow Chemoi bridge along the Eldoret-Webuye highway.

The lawmaker questioned why the Authority has not taken any action despite the area being a known blackspot.

“I am sure KeNHA gets reports of deaths that occur between the Mukhonje area and the Eldoret- Malaba road. We are losing people every day because we have a problem with the steep road between Mukhonje and Chemoi area,” Nabwera stated.

“There is also Chemoi bridge which is too narrow. Just last week, a matatu and a truck collided and 14 people died. For how long will this continue before action is taken?”

Teso South MP Mary Emaase weighing on the matter also narrated the many cases of accidents along the busy Kisumu-Busia road which is currently in a poor state.

She also raised issues with Malaba-Busia road whose condition is deteriorating due to heavily-loaded trucks using the road.  

“These roads are full of pot holes and when it rains, we have water-filled holes that resemble the size of a swimming pool.  I am just wondering what plans KENHA has for improving these roads,” Emaase said.

“The Malaba- Busia road was also not meant for heavy trucks but because of the heavy traffic on that road, you find heavy trucks taking a shortcut and using the roads to access the Malaba border or Busia border I don’t know what plans you have to reduce traffic or block the heavy trucks from using it.”

In response, KeNHA Director General Luka Kimeli assured MPs that rehabilitation works were ongoing on priority sections of the national road network.

He explained that along the Eldoret-Webuye transport corridor, the biggest challenge is drivers freewheeling their trucks but the authority had partnered with the police to institute the arrest of such drivers.

He also informed the Committee chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale of plans to secure funding for the expansion of Chemoi bridge were underway.

“One of the biggest problems is freewheeling by trucks on that road and we have told the police to take charge and assist us arrest these fellows… But then I agree that the bridge is a bit narrow and we can put it in our programme to ensure that it is expanded to save lives,” Kimeli stated.

Reagrding the Malaba-Busia road, the MD said KENHA was set to roll out a mobile weighbridge targeting over-loaded trucks.

“It is true, the section of the road between Malaba and Busia is getting worse every day. To stop the overloading, we will be deploying a mobile weighbridge to stop those heavy trucks to stop the roads. That road was not meant to provide passage for the heavy trucks but provide passage for the lighter trucks,” Kimuli stated.  

“On the Kisumu-Busia road we appreciate it is in a bad state but not necessarily because of the rains. We are dealing with a road that was constructed a long time ago and it is now aged and required reconstruction.”

“In the meantime, what we are doing is that we had a contractor who was not a good one and we had to move him but we are getting another one who will be able to repair the potholes. We are also working with the ministry to see if we can be able to secure funding for these roads.”