Engineers from the Kenya National Highways Authority have inspected the Suswa Weighbridge Station on the busy Narok-Mai Mahiu corridor, the latest move in a nationwide drive to curb overloading and extend the lifespan of major highways.
Led by senior engineer Peter Maruti, the delegation assessed infrastructure at the facility, which handles a heavy flow of transit trucks, long-distance buses and tippers carrying construction materials.
The visit underlined KeNHA’s determination to enforce strict axle-load limits and maintain road safety standards across the country’s trunk network.
The authority confirmed that Suswa, which is managed by Danka Africa (K) Ltd, is among twenty-six weighbridges earmarked for significant upgrade under its current strategic plan.
The most visible change will be conversion to bidirectional operation, allowing vehicles to be checked in both directions without the lengthy detours that currently frustrate drivers.
Overloading has long been identified as one of the primary causes of premature road failure in Kenya, particularly on routes linking the port of Mombasa with inland neighbours. Heavy goods vehicles exceeding legal axle limits by margins of fifty per cent or more have caused widespread cracking and potholing, forcing costly emergency repairs.
KeNHA attributes recent improvements in compliance to two factors. First, harmonisation with the East African Community axle-load schedule has removed previous discrepancies that transporters exploited. Second, regular dialogue with haulage companies and drivers’ associations has fostered greater understanding of the regulations.
Perhaps the biggest operational advance has come through technology. High-Speed Weigh-in-Motion systems now screen vehicles at normal road speed, instantly flagging those that require full static weighing. The result, according to officials at Suswa, has been a dramatic reduction in queues and delays that once stretched several kilometres.
Transport operators have broadly welcomed the changes, provided enforcement remains consistent and corruption-free. Drivers spoken to during the inspection acknowledged that smoother traffic flow and predictable journey times outweigh the inconvenience of stricter weight checks.
With the upgrades scheduled for completion over the next two years, KeNHA believes the combination of modern infrastructure and smart technology will finally bring overloading under control, protecting both the road network and the thousands of motorists who use it daily.
