Firm demands tough rules for heavy trucks

The wreckage of a matatu belonging to North Rift Shuttle on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway on April 17, 2014. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH

What you need to know:

  • Rift Valley regional traffic enforcement officer Mary Omari said initial investigations indicated that the matatu had complied with the new traffic rules

The sacco, whose vehicle was involved in the crash that claimed 11 lives, has appealed to the government to enact tough traffic rules on heavy trucks.

Most trucks plying the highways are to blame for accidents, North Rift Shuttle chairman Joseph Ngige said on Thursday.

“The driver of the truck, which hit our matatu, was not in full control of his vehicle,” said Mr Ngige of the accident that happened at Quarry on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.

Rift Valley regional traffic enforcement officer Mary Omari said initial investigations indicated that the matatu had complied with the new traffic rules since it was fitted with a digital speed governor.

“We have taken the speed governor for analysis to establish whether the vehicle was speeding,” Ms Omari said

Mr Ngige said that all their vehicles are fitted with the speed gadgets by two firms — Omata and Power Governor.

He said most of the victims were heading to Nairobi to spend the Easter holiday with their friends and families.

“These trucks must also be fitted with speed governors and have certificates of roadworthiness, just like matatus,” he added.

NIGHT TRAVEL BAN

He called on the government to enforce the night travel ban on heavy trucks as one way of minimising accidents.

Mr Ngige said that most trucks plying the Nakuru-Eldoret highway should have at least two drivers since they were running between Mombasa and the Great Lakes region and were bound to get tired.

“They must have at least two drivers because it is wrong to expect one driver to be alert all the way from Mombasa to Busia,” he said.