Roads authority moves to stem rot in operations of weighbridges

Kenya: The Kenya National Highways Authority (KNHA) has intensified efforts to fight corruption at weighbridges by appointing an independent firm to manage and upgrade the entire network. SGS Kenya Limited has been appointed by the authority to protect Kenya’s highway from overloading by unscrupulous transporters.

“We have taken several actions to combat the problem of corruption at weighbridges, including installation of advanced technology, which removes discretion by the police and operators of weighbridge stations,” said Albert Stockell, managing director SGS Kenya Limited in a statement.

Other technologies already deployed include high speed weighing in motion systems for automatic selection of trucks for static weighing, weighbridge software, camera, security guards and traffic control equipment.

An undercover operation by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission has worked with SGS to identify all parties involved in the facilitation of overloaded trucks to bypass the axle load weight control.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has put in place measures to ensure overloaded trucks do not pass checks at weighbridges. For instance, all overloaded trucks will be auctioned if they fail to raise the fee charged at the weighbridge. The new rules will also see cargo from these nabbed trucks sold off.

At present, the overloading fee is standard and does not penalise an offender for the distance covered. In the new regulations, computations will change to include distance covered ensuring that those penalised pay in full for the damage caused on the entire road stretch that has been tampered with.