An incident in which the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) fined an overloaded truck along Mombasa road elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans on Monday, January 30.
This was after the truck which was ferrying 24.7 tonnes of sand was detained after attracting a fine of Ksh13.9 million from the authority.
According to Senior Engineer, Kennedy Ndugire, of the Axle Load Control Unit, who spoke to the media on behalf of the highways authority, the Authority was determined to root out overloading from Kenyan roads.
“The truck was found to have exceeded the normal weight of between 54,000kg and 78,740kg, which attracted a Ksh13,987,323 fine under the East Africa Community Vehicle Load Act, 2016,” the Authority reported.
However, while reacting to the story shortly after it went viral, many Kenyans felt the amount charged as a fine for overloading was too much with most indicating that the amount could have been exaggerated.
“EAC laws my foot when Ugandan trucks bypass the weighbridge overloaded and nothing being done. A law should be uniform and not selective,” Njambaka Anuro noted.
Other users argued that this was not an isolated case of an overloaded truck as many of them often pass the weighbridge without attracting such a fine.
“The trucks from Syokimau Kware driving through the new overpass bridge in broad daylight while loaded and not through the weighbridge! Enforcement unit not doing much!” Kevin Kabiru added.
Seriously, the truck itself is Ksh3.2 million, the driver is entitled to Ksh1200 per day, where does he get that Ksh13 million from, this regime of tax collectors though,” Koungo Eve wondered.
Kenyans were further concerned about the reason why the particular truck was detained while other major issues that needed greater attention were happening along the busy roads without the Authority's action.
“In 60 days, if the owner will not have paid the fine, he will be deemed to have forfeited the vehicle to the state and KeNHA will get a court order to sell the vehicle,” Ken Munene remarked.
“This is a very straightforward issue. The driver refused to pay a bribe and was slapped with punitive fines! Ever heard of any other driver fined such or nearer amount?” Paul Mutunga added.
Ndugire announced that the agency will do everything to protect roads that have been going through repairs from overloaded trucks.
“We receive at least 100 cases of overloading on our roads daily. Some cases end up in court. Trucks plying regional trunk road networks are fined at the weighbridges,” he noted.
