Long distance truck drivers have welcomed the plans to reduce the weighbridges along the Northern Corridor and do away with roadblocks.
President William Ruto on Saturday directed that transit goods be weighed only twice – at the point of exit from the port or at Mariakani and at the border in Malaba.
Speaking at a port users and stakeholders meeting at the Mombasa port, Ruto further directed the Interior ministry to remove all roadblocks along the Northern Corridor.
This is meant to facilitate easier and faster movement of transit goods along the corridor.
On Monday, Long Distance Truck Drivers and Allied Workers Union chairperson, Roman Waema, said the move is a welcome relief for truckers and transport stakeholders.
Waema said the weighbridges have become a nuisance to truckers and cause unnecessary traffic jams that sometimes stretch for more than 50km.
“We have been advocating for only two weighbridges along the route. It is encouraging that finally the government has heard our plea and has taken action,” Waema told the Star on phone.
There are at least six weighbridges between Mombasa and Malaba.
These are at Bonje in Mombasa county, Mariakani in Kilifi county, Mlolongo in Machakos county, Gilgil in Nakuru county, Webuye in Bungoma county and Malaba in Busia county.
On Saturday at the Mombasa port, Ruto said although the weighbridges are efficient in terms of sending bills to truckers, there should be no unnecessary stoppages along the Northern Corridor.
“I am one person who has paid almost Sh3 million because one of my trucks at home was carrying manure and the driver was not very intelligent because he just crossed the bridge so many times and he was carrying overweight so when I received the bill I was wondering what happened. And there was no escape, I had to pay the bill,” the President said.
He, however, said transit cargo should only be weighed twice.
“I think we have agreed that transit cargo will be weighed twice, period. Whether it is here or Mariakani, and then at Malaba,” Ruto said.
“The rest of the weighbridges will continue working for the rest of us who are carrying things around Kenya.”
He said that Kenya has slipped back in terms of transportation of cargo.
Waema also welcomed Ruto’s move to remove roadblocks from the Northern Corridor, saying they depict Kenya as being at war.
He said there are about 30 roadblocks that truckers have to pass through from Mombasa to Malaba.
Wama said between Mombasa and Nairobi alone, there are at least 15 roadblocks at Mikindani, Changamwe, Bonje, Mazeras, Mariakani, Samburu, Taru, Maungu, Voi, Manyani, Kibwezi, Makindu, Emali, Sultan Hamud, Malili and Mlolongo.
After Nairobi, more roadblocks are at Naivasha, Gilgil, Nakuru town, Sachang’wan, Kambi ya GSU, Kwa Kondoo, Burnt Forest, Cheptiret, Eldoret Town, Webuye, Mukhonje, Turbo, Bungoma, Chwele, Timaiti and Malaba.
“And at every roadblock, you must part with something or else a mistake will definitely be found on your truck. A trucker has to have at least Sh4,000 for the police at the roadblocks for one journey from Mombasa to Malaba,” Waema said.
He said the removal of roadblocks will further open up the Northern Corridor for more trucks.
Waema said that foreign truck drivers usually wait till nightfall to begin their journey because then there are reduced roadblocks.
“We need these foreigners for our businesses to grow. These roadblocks are bottlenecks that become barriers to business,” he said.