Teso North MP Oku Kaunya has urged Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) to introduce hi-tech digital weigh-in-motion bridges in Busia and Malaba to address the frequent heavy traffic witnessed daily by trucks.
Speaking at Malaba town while addressing clearing agents and residents of Malaba, Kaunya noted that it is sad to learn that weighing machines deployed in Busia fail due to technical hitches that affects movement of trucks and cargo.
He asked transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen to visit Malaba and address the situation which leads to drivers spending a lot of time to move from Kanduyu junction to Malaba.
“Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) is a technology that doesn’t require vehicles to stop for weighing. This will help reduce time taken to transport goods to Uganda or other East African countries,” noted Kaunya.
Weigh-In-Motion is able to measure the weights and axle loads of vehicles traveling at normal speeds. The new WIM devices are designed to capture and record axle weights and gross vehicle weights as vehicles pass over a measurement site.
“Weighing whilst in motion saves time as workers do not have to physically stop every truck and wait for the driver to exit. Additionally, these machines can incorporate Automatic Number Plate Recognition which makes the process of vehicle registration completely automatic,” explained Kaunya.
For empty trucks, the system will automatically weigh and clear the truck allowing the drivers to drive through. “It has actually eased traffic in a big way and improved the effective operation of the weighbridge,” he added.
The Malaba weighbridge measures about 3000 to 3500 trucks daily. Weighbridges have been blamed for causing unnecessary traffic jams and aggravating other road users.
His sentiment comes three days after truck-drivers and clearing agents staged a protest against the Ugandan policy that directed empty trucks to use Lwakhakha border while entering Kenya from Uganda.
Teso South MP Mary Emase addressing the public at Adungosi market urged the government to Fast-track construction of a dual-carriage way as a lasting solution to traffic congestion at the two One Stop Border Posts (ONBPs) of Busia and Malaba that generates billions of shillings to the government.
“The only way to address traffic in Malaba and Busia is through dual carriageway, the current road can’t put up with the traffic witnessed daily,” said Emase.
Its worthy noting that Malaba border generates over Sh5 billion in revenue annually employing over five thousand people who play different roles.
By Absalom Namwalo
