LONG DISTANCE BUSES WARNED AGAINST OVERLOADING

Long-distance bus companies responsible for the huge number of Kenyans going home for Christmas have been warned not to overload their vehicles as the number of passengers rises significantly in the main transport corridors.
During a press conference at the Athi River weighbridge, Peter Njoroge, the site contractor for Danka Africa (K) Limited — the company that manages the facility on behalf of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) — reminded operators that the EAC axle-load regulations apply to all vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes and that includes passenger service vehicles (PSVs).

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a 62-seater bus or a truck full of goods, the scale treats them the same,” Mr Njoroge said during the KeNHA-sponsored media tour.

He pointed out that the compliance rate at the Athi River station has gone up to 99 percent in the last few days, which indicates that the transport operators are getting more and more cautious and are observing the weight limits.

In the past, some bus companies put passenger bags in the luggage compartments and even on the tops of buses during the holiday season which is the busiest time for them. This not only put the vehicles under stress but also created a risk of accidents. However, Mr Njoroge is optimistic that such practices will no longer happen as KeNHA intensifies its efforts to protect the country’s Sh3 trillion road network that has been developed over the past ten years.

To make things easier, the main bus operators have started forming associations that are constantly in touch with KeNHA for training, policy discussions, and calibrating the onboard weighing equipment.

"We do not come here to punish but to be partners," Mr. Njoroge said.
"When a bus is flagged, the drivers are given time to offload or redistribute the luggage that is more than the allowed limit before continuing their journey."

As part of its strategic plan for 2025–2030, KeNHA will set up more mobile and permanent weighbridges along major transport routes to prevent road damage and improve safety.
Motorists gave their views at the Athi River station and they were in favor of the strict enforcement of traffic rules. They pointed out that the measure taken has helped to lessen the number of accidents that are fatal and related to brake failure especially on steep slopes.