The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced the introduction of ultramodern weighing sensors to curb overloading along major roads.
Addressing Kenyans during the rollout on Thursday, March 6, KeNHA Operations Manager George Ngugi noted the first 12 sensors would be installed along roads in Western and Nyanza regions.
He went ahead to reveal that the maintenance-free sensors would be erected along the Mau Summit, Cheptiret, Eldama Ravine, Eldoret, Kapenguria, Malaba, Mayoni, Mukumu, and Ahero Highway.
Ngugi disclosed that the installation of the new ultramodern sensors began following the upgrade of road pavements from asphalt to concrete to enhance the longevity of the sensors.
According to him, the process of installing the sensors was almost complete and that the full operationalisation of the new equipment would begin soon.
"We have finalised the mechanical and electrical works, and installed the virtual scales and other accessories, we are now in the testing and verification stage," Ngugi noted.
The installation of the new sensors comes amidst calls by the East African region countries for the full implementation of the Road Overloading Law, which was passed in 2015.
Introduced a decade ago, the law requires that vehicles weighing about 3.5 tonnes be subjected to the weighing bridges and that any motorists who fail to adhere to the rule risk prosecution.
KeNHA first announced the installation of the modern sensors in November last year when it announced that beginning this year, it would automate the weighbridges along the Northern corridor.
The Northern corridor connects the Port of Mombasa to several East African countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan, which are crucial trading hubs.
Meanwhile, the new measure comes amidst calls by transport stakeholders for the government's intervention in enhancing safety along major roads by dealing with incidents such as overloading.
Overloading makes a vehicle too heavy to move steadily along the road, thus increasing the chances of a vehicle rolling over the highway and consequently leading to injuries or even deaths.
