KeNHA launches crack down on trucks overloading

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has launched a crackdown on vehicles that overload with goods.

Eng Kennedy Ndugire in charge of Axle Load Control said overloading was responsible for the destruction of the roads infrastructure where the government has invested billions of shillings.

Eng Ndugire who was speaking during an operation along the busy Nairobi- Mombasa Road on Monday said that they are working closely with the police and other government agencies to ensure that heavy-load vehicles obey the set guidelines.

"We have regulations guiding the transportation of heavy loads along the various roads in the East African region which must be obeyed by all road users with those going against the law having their vehicles impounded and held until they pay the set fines," he said.

The KeNHA official said that a lorry that is overloaded by more than 20 tonnes will attract a fine of Sh5.6 million while a lorry that is overloaded by 31.5 tonnes will attract a fine of Sh49. 9 million under the East African Community Load Control Regulations.

The Officer Commanding Axle Load Enforcement and Highways Unit John Gichohi said that the impounded vehicles attract a Sh6,200 daily parking fee until the fines imposed are paid failure to which they will be auctioned to recover the money.

Gichohi said that police officers stationed on major highways across the country are under instructions to ensure that vehicles carrying heavy loads meet the set guidelines or use the required road network in order to save the government billions of shillings used in road repair annually.

"Traffic police officers operating along our major highways are under instructions to ensure that no vehicle carrying load surpassing the set capacity operate on our various roads with those not obeying the law being arrested and made to face the law," he said.