Kenya extends ban on seven axle trucks
Aug 30, 2007
AUTHORITIES in Kenya have extended the deadline for transporters to stop using seven-axle trucks from August 22 to November 31. The trucks have a short engine cabin and a long trailer, which has four sets of tyres (axles) at the extreme end.
By Geresom Musamali
and Mikaili Sseppuya
AUTHORITIES in Kenya have extended the deadline for transporters to stop using seven-axle trucks from August 22 to November 31.
The trucks have a short engine cabin and a long trailer, which has four sets of tyres (axles) at the extreme end.
The recommended six-axle trucks have one complete lorry and a trailer of the same size.
According to Richard Nyiro, a manager at Maersk Uganda, the seventh axle can be removed but noted that this reduces the carriage capacity of the truck from 56,000kg to 50,000kg, which results in loss of income.
The trucks were prohibited in Tanzania because its roads are designed for lighter traffic.
Under the Kenya Traffic Rules of 1999, the seventh (rearmost) axle is only accepted if it has a direct link with the steering wheel (axle).
The trucks are, however legal in Uganda, Charles Muganzi, the Permanent Secretary in the works ministry, said in a September 2006 notice.
The extension of the deadline follows negotiations by the joint transport technical committees of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
Sudan and the DR Congo, whose trucks also use Kenyan roads to access the Mombasa Port, did not attend the meeting held in Nairobi recently.
Kenyan transport minister Chirau Mwakwete said his country had spent a lot of money in the construction and rehabilitation of the roads.
“The government is determined to ensure that the legislation on axle-load limits is strictly adhered to by all road transporters in order to save Kenyan roads from damage and premature failures.â€
The Kenya Transporters’ Association, however, went to court on August 20 to block Mwakwete’s directive. The transporters said Mwakwete’s action was unreasonable and in bad faith.
They added that it was impossible to beat the deadline. Ugandan transporters also protested the move.
Engineer Dennis Sabiiti, Uganda’s commissioner for transport regulation, was part of the negotiating team.
“We have agreed on 13 key points regarding regional transport. We have also successfully negotiated to bring the regulations into force on December 1,†he said yesterday, on phone from Nairobi.
and Mikaili Sseppuya
AUTHORITIES in Kenya have extended the deadline for transporters to stop using seven-axle trucks from August 22 to November 31.
The trucks have a short engine cabin and a long trailer, which has four sets of tyres (axles) at the extreme end.
The recommended six-axle trucks have one complete lorry and a trailer of the same size.
According to Richard Nyiro, a manager at Maersk Uganda, the seventh axle can be removed but noted that this reduces the carriage capacity of the truck from 56,000kg to 50,000kg, which results in loss of income.
The trucks were prohibited in Tanzania because its roads are designed for lighter traffic.
Under the Kenya Traffic Rules of 1999, the seventh (rearmost) axle is only accepted if it has a direct link with the steering wheel (axle).
The trucks are, however legal in Uganda, Charles Muganzi, the Permanent Secretary in the works ministry, said in a September 2006 notice.
The extension of the deadline follows negotiations by the joint transport technical committees of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
Sudan and the DR Congo, whose trucks also use Kenyan roads to access the Mombasa Port, did not attend the meeting held in Nairobi recently.
Kenyan transport minister Chirau Mwakwete said his country had spent a lot of money in the construction and rehabilitation of the roads.
“The government is determined to ensure that the legislation on axle-load limits is strictly adhered to by all road transporters in order to save Kenyan roads from damage and premature failures.â€
The Kenya Transporters’ Association, however, went to court on August 20 to block Mwakwete’s directive. The transporters said Mwakwete’s action was unreasonable and in bad faith.
They added that it was impossible to beat the deadline. Ugandan transporters also protested the move.
Engineer Dennis Sabiiti, Uganda’s commissioner for transport regulation, was part of the negotiating team.
“We have agreed on 13 key points regarding regional transport. We have also successfully negotiated to bring the regulations into force on December 1,†he said yesterday, on phone from Nairobi.