After a three-month trial run, transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia opened up about the biggest challenge his Ministry deals with on the Nairobi Expressway.
Speaking on the sidelines of the highway's commissioning on Sunday, July 31, the CS noted that cases of speeding were on the rise on the elevated road.
He noted that some motorists had repeatedly ignored the state's speed limit capped at 80km/hr by driving as high as 140km/hr.
This is despite Moja Expressway, the company tasked with managing the highway, mounting speed limit signs every two kilometer long the 27-kilometer stretch.
"Kenyans do not like observing speed limits. Along the Expressway, there is a sign saying 'Maximum 80km' every 2 kilometers but you will find somebody driving at 140km/h. This is what was causing an issue," stated the CS.
The CS further noted that Public Service Vehicles (PSV) were still banned from accessing the highway after a matatu was involved in an accident near the Mlolongo exit.
While launching the Expressway, President Uhuru Kenyatta hailed the project noting that it would boost urbanisation across the city.
"The Expressway has opened a better business environment for our country which means more opportunities for our country in tourism, conferencing, manufacturing and hospitality. Sectors that employ more than 3 million directly and 6 million indirectly," announced the Head of State.
His sentiments come a month after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) confirmed that measures were in the works to prevent the perennial speeding problem.
In June, Moja Expressway rolled out an extensive sensitization exercise aimed at reminding motorists of the importance of adhering to the 80km/hr speed limit.
KeNHA noted that motorists found culpable of exceeding the stipulated speed limits would face the law as contained in the Traffic Amendment Act 2021.
The Act, which was signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, June 21, stipulates that the driving license of a person who has been convicted for the violation of a speed limit shall be invalidated for a period of not less than three years.
