The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) arrested a suspect caught vandalizing reinforcement bars along the Miritini-Kipevu road.
The arrest was made by the Axle Load Enforcement and Highway Unit (ALEHU) in Mombasa.
According to KeNHA, the suspect was found in possession of a mason’s hammer and had previously been arrested for a similar offense in 2024. At the time, he was sentenced to six months of community service. Currently, he is being held at Changamwe Police Station and is expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday.
KeNHA has urged the public to safeguard road infrastructure and report any acts of vandalism to authorities. The agency emphasized the critical role of reinforcement bars, commonly known as rebar, in ensuring the strength and durability of roads and bridges.
Reinforcement bars are steel bars or mesh used to enhance concrete structures. Concrete is strong under compression but weak under tension, making rebar essential in preventing cracks and structural failure. The bars are arranged in a grid pattern within the concrete to distribute loads and resist stress.
Different types of rebar are used in road construction, including epoxy-coated rebar for moisture-prone areas, stainless steel rebar for high-humidity regions, and galvanized rebar, which resists corrosion. These materials ensure roads withstand heavy traffic and harsh environmental conditions.
KeNHA has reiterated its commitment to protecting road infrastructure and called on Kenyans to report any suspicious activities that threaten the country’s transport network.
