Fresh row over axle load rule

A dispute has erupted between transporters and the highways authority over axle load weight limits with truck drivers threatening to block the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

The drivers Tuesday accused Kenya National Highways Authority officers of harassing them and threatened to hold a demonstration.

About 50 trucks were this week penalised for overloading at the Mariakani Weighbridge. They claimed they were being harassed for an issue out of their control over.

After expiry of a three-month grace period on March 31, the roads authority moved to enforce last year’s order on dummy axles on trucks. The dummy axle does not make contact with the road surface.

Transporters said there was nothing they could do about the lift axle, as it comes with the truck.

“The trucks we drive have six-axles and should weigh a maximum of 52 tonnes but at the weighbridge the truck is weighed on the five-axle and we end up being charged for overload of up to seven tonnes,” said one driver.

He claimed that some officers were asking for bribes of up to Sh10,000 to release the trucks.

Kenya Transporters Association acting executive officer Willington Kiverenge said they were required to provide a certificate from the manufacturer stating that the trucks were imported with the axles.

“Truckers are spending between Sh700,000 and Sh900,000 to remodel each truck to conform with the roads authority rules but the requirement that we obtain this certificate for the lift axle does not make sense. Some of the trucks are second hand and we cannot get the documents from the manufacturers,” said Mr Kiverenge.

However, manager in charge of axle load Muita Ngatia said transporters were complaining over a matter that had already been resolved.

“The weight should be distributed on the axles and if a truck is carrying 52 tonnes with one axle lifted, it means the entire load is exerted on five axles. The truck should thus be weighed on the five-axle weight limit,” Mr Ngatia told Nation in a telephone interview Tuesday.