By Henry Kimoli
NAIROBI, KENYA: Despite attempts by Kenyans to fight impunity, some people are still fixated with the vice.
For the last three weeks, the media has published stories on how motorists, including tourists, have been stranded for hours on end in Mariakani and Mlolongo.
Reason? Some truck drivers had blocked the busy road protesting the alleged breakdown of a weighing machine at Mariakani weighbridge and alleged graft.
A few days later, the same truck drivers blocked Athi River-Nairobi road over the same allegations. This is not the first time. In December last year, trucks blocked the same road to protest implementation of the new axle load measures introduced by the Government five years ago. This is despite the fact the Kenya Transporters Association (KCA) had gone to court and lost an application to defer the implementation of the new measures.
On the latest standoff, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) officials have stated that no weighing machines have broken down at Mariakani and Athi River.
KeNHA has gone further to explain that the truck owners are opposing measures by the authority to end graft by evicting brokers, known to be conduits of graft at the weighbridges.
Whereas the truck owners are free to exercise their democratic right to assembly, some home truths need to be stated. The implementation of the Axle Load Limit on Kenyan roads is espoused and legalised in the Kenya Roads Act 2007. Its implementation is elucidated in the Traffic Act Cap 107, empowering traffic officers.
KeNHA and other road agencies’ role is to provide technical assistance by providing weighing and logistical support in the process. The police are supposed to ensure that all vehicles comply, besides arresting offending truckers.
In fact, the KeNHA mandate explicitly singles out Axle Load Control as one of its major function as the custodian of the construction and maintenance of highways in Kenya. The import of the above is that adherence of recommended axle load limit is not an option. It is a must, if the current good road network at our disposal is to be maintained.
The above notwithstanding, nobody has a right to block the free movement of traffic in any part of the country, whatever the circumstances.
Unless the truck drivers and their owners are oblivious of the new Traffic Act, and the consequences there of, there is no justification for their latest actions, whatever the motivation.
Suffice however is to say that some of the complaints being put forward by the truck drivers and owners.
Yes, we know weighbridges the world over are grey areas for graft. But what is the correlation between the vice and delays in weighing vehicles? And if indeed truck drivers are being coerced to bribe, have they recorded statements with the police? Or even alerted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to sting an operation?
In the past, graft allegations have been used to stir up emotions, curtail careers and yes, attract and sustain media attention and coverage.
With due respect, it may be hard to separate this latest ‘expose’ with the above in view of the raucous surrounding this storm in a tea cup.
It must however be said here and now that Kenyan roads are public assets, paid for and maintained by taxpayers. They are for public good and not the exclusive use by certain groups of people. KeNHA must not relent in implementing axle load whatever the intensity of the noise.
