Drivers in Mlolongo weighbridge row to pay for damages

Operators of lorries used to block Mombasa Road during Monday’s protest over toll fees will pay for damages at Mlolongo weighbridge, Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau has said.

Mr Kamau has said the lorries have been identified and hooligans who led the demonstrations would also be traced and be held to account.

The CS spoke at the weighbridge after the incident interrupted operations on the road the whole day.

They ripped off a section of the fence, destroyed a camera and damaged parts of the weighbridge.

A window compartment is also broken, Mr Kamau said.

“We cannot let people take the law into their own hands. Someone will have to pay, they cannot go scot-free,” Mr Kamau said.

The minister said operations at the weighbridge would resume soon.

He, however, pointed that some of his officers have been threatened but vowed not to allow hooligans to have their way.

RESISTING TOLL FEES

Locals are resisting efforts to ensure all heavy commercial vehicles pay toll fees at the weighbridge.

On Sunday, weighbridge authorities erected a concrete barrier in the middle of the service lanes adjacent the highway effectively locking out lorries that had been using the routes to avoid the weighbridge.

The barriers have constricted the service lanes forcing heavy commercial vehicles to stay on the highway which leads to the weighbridge.

Vehicles weighing over 3,500 kilogrammes have to go through the weighbridge or face Sh184,000 (USD2000) penalty.

Residents and sand transporters stormed the Mlolongo weighbridge offices and blocked Mombasa Road, demanding removal of the barriers.

They claim they are avoiding the weighbridge because police are extorting money from them.

Lorry drivers claim they are forced to part with as much as Sh100,000 a month to operate.

Locals who make a living off the lorries say diverting the trucks is denying them business.

5-HOUR TRAFFIC JAM

The residents ganged up with transporters who parked the lorries in the middle of the road causing a five-hour traffic jam.

Police responded by lobbing tear gas canisters at the protesters who engaged them in running battles.

Area police boss Kizito Mutoro said the protests were illegal and urged those alleging corruption at the weighbridge to file complaints with the relevant authorities.

However, Mr Kamau dismissed the claims. “Why is the issue emerging only when the government has moved to tighten enforcement?” he asked.

“I urge anyone to report cases of graft to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.”

Area MP Patrick Makau claimed the roadblocks had denied some residents access to their homes.

“We cannot have our people locked out of their homes in as much as we do not support evading taxes,” Mr Makau added.

Mr Makau said residents had also been angered by the move to set up roadblocks which denied them access to their own homes.

“This is mixed area where we have churches, residential areas, businesses, we cannot have our people locked out of their homes in as much as we do not support avoiding taxes,” the Mavoko MP said.

Residents also pointed out that the barriers which were erected without consultations had caused a number of accidents in the area.