Nairobi Expressway Operator Allows Lorries on the Highway

An imageof a lorry pictured at the Syokimau entrance of the Nairobi Expressway
A photo of a lorry pictured at the Syokimau entrance of the Nairobi Expressway.
Moja Expressway

Moja Expressway on Monday, February 6, announced that it would allow lorries and trucks on the Nairobi expressway effective immediately.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Head of Public Relations Jeanne Ongiyo confirmed that the vehicles categorised under Class 5 registered with transit and logistic companies would be granted access to the elevated highway.

These include heavy vehicles with fewer than four axles including trucks (three axles), small buses with a capacity of between 20 and 40 passengers and big buses that can ferry more than 40 passengers.

A photo of a lorry on undegoing a weight check at the Syokimau entrance of the Nairobi Expressway.
A photo of a lorry undergoing a weight check at the Syokimau entrance of the Nairobi Expressway.
Moja Expressway

"Yes, accompanied with Class 5 vehicles with a maximum of 46,000 kilogrammes can now enrol for the electronic toll collection at any of our offices," Ongiyo stated.

She allayed fears that the trucks would cause damage to the road, stating that the 27-kilometre stretch can handle the weight of the allowed vehicles.

"The reason why we did not allow the vehicles on the roadway is that we do not have a weighing bride to check the weight for compliance but they will be installed," the official added.

A photo shared by the operator revealed that Syokimau Station has been fitted with a weighbridge on one of its manual toll collection (MTC) points.

Notably, the new category of vehicles would be charged more than the normal vehicles with the rates given by the operator indicating they would pay four times the base toll.

For instance, a trip from Syokimau to Westlands would cost Ksh1,440 while smaller vehicles with two axles are charged Ksh360.

Unknown to many, the expressway permits vehicles with more than four axles such as trailers to use the elevated highway. The fee levied is five times the standard toll.

In December 2022, Moja Expressway Chief Executive Officer Steve Zhao announced that at least 50,000 vehicles used the road on a daily basis.

Zhao disclosed that since its official opening, the roadway has served more than 1.7 million motorists.

An image of one of the electronic speed cameras mounted along the Nairobi expressway (1).jpg
A collage of the expressway and an image of one of the electronic speed cameras mounted along the Nairobi expressway.
File