Mathias Ring And Henry Andanje
3 October 2008
Nairobi — Police in Mariakani on Friday continued to enforce the three-axle rule despite a High Court order barring its implementation.
The High Court in Nairobi on Thursday barred Transport minister Ali Chirau Mwakwere from effecting the rule until a case filed by transport companies was heard and determined.
But a spot check by the Saturday Nation established that Mariakani police were barring trucks not complying with the rule from transporting cargo to upcountry destinations.
Police began enforcing the law on Wednesday following the August Presidential directive that transporters reduce their truck axles from four to three by September 30.
Provincial police officer King'ori Mwangi said he had not been given new instructions from Police headquarters.
Released
Kenya Transport Association chairman Ahmed Shimbwa said police were defying a court order and thousands of trucks were grounded.
"We thought police would heed the court directive, but trucks with four axles remain barred. We do not blame the police. The war is between us and the Transport minister as we do not understand why he won't respect the decision of the courts."
He said transporters had lost billions of shillings and feared that the Mombasa port would soon face a congestion crisis as cargo is piling up.
Meanwhile, more than 100 trucks headed to Uganda were yesterday impounded at Malaba.
A Government official at Amagoro weighbridge said none of the trucks would be released until the owners complied with the new law. Drivers, however, disclosed that individual truck owners had removed the four axles while companies were reluctant to do so.
The manager of Buzeki Company Enterprises, Mr Dan Karis, said Southern Sudan would face a cement shortage.
He also said construction work at Bujakali Power Falls in Jinja, Uganda, would be disrupted as it gets cement and other materials from Mombasa by truck.
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