Long distance bus operators warned against overloading ahead of Christmas rush

Speaking during a media briefing at the Athi River weighbridge, Peter Njoroge, the site contractor for Danka Africa (K) Limited — the company managing the facility on behalf of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) — reminded operators that all vehicles weighing above 3.5 tonnes, including passenger service vehicles (PSVs), must comply with East African Community (EAC) axle-load regulations.

“Whether it is a 62-seater bus or a truck carrying goods, the scale does not discriminate,” Mr Njoroge said during the KeNHA-organised media tour.

He noted that compliance at the Athi River station has risen to 99 percent in recent weeks, a sign that transport operators are increasingly observing load limits.

In the past, some bus companies overloaded luggage compartments and even rooftops during peak holiday periods, dangerously straining vehicle systems and heightening accident risks. But Mr Njoroge said such practices are fading as KeNHA intensifies efforts to safeguard the country’s Sh3 trillion road network developed over the past decade.

To foster cooperation, major bus operators have formed associations that routinely engage KeNHA for training, policy dialogue, and calibration of onboard weighing equipment.

“We are not here to punish but to partner,” Mr Njoroge added.

“When a bus is flagged, drivers are given time to offload or redistribute excess luggage before continuing their journey.”

As part of its 2025–2030 strategic plan, KeNHA will deploy more mobile and permanent weighbridges along key transport routes to curb road damage and enhance safety.

Motorists interviewed at the Athi River station welcomed the heightened enforcement, noting that it has helped reduce deadly accidents linked to brake failure, especially on steep slopes.