The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced that it has initiated a crackdown targeting overloaded trucks nationwide.
In a statement on Sunday, October 5, the authority announced that its teams will carry out night surveillance along major truck routes to ensure drivers comply with vehicle weight regulations.
The announcement followed a team from the authority intercepting an overloaded truck on Friday, October 3, along the Narok-Sekenani Road.
According to KeNHA, the truck, which was loaded with murram, was found with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 30850kg, which was an excess overload of 2850 kg.
"Friday evening, while carrying out surveillance along the Narok - Sekenani Road, the Suswa mobile weighbridge team intercepted a three axle (3A) tipper truck laden with murram," KeNHA stated.
However, despite the authority ordering the driver to remove the vehicle from the road until compliance is attained and issuing a Notice to Attend Court, the driver never complied.
Instead, the driver drove to Narok Police Station and locked himself inside the vehicle, prompting officers to remove both the front and rear number plates before booking the incident.
"The driver was served with a Prohibition Order (Order to Remove Vehicle from the Road until compliance is attained) and Notice To Attend Court (NTAC)," KeNHA stated.
Adherence to weight limits is essential for maintaining road conditions and reducing the cost of road repairs, in addition to ensuring safety.
Vehicles that exceed weight limits are subject to heavy fines, including Ksh200,000 for first-time offenders and Ksh400,000 for subsequent ones.
The announcement comes months after the Ministry of Transport announced that it will increase the number of weighbridges across the country in a bid to elevate transport efficiency and compliance.
According to Transport Cabinet Secretary, Davis Chirchir, the ministry is in the process of introducing 28 additional weighbridges across the roads, which will include virtual and static stations.
