Governor James Orengo commissioned two full sets of axle load weighing equipment to tackle several problems associated with road maintenance and transport control. This acquisition by the Siaya County Department of Trade has the following goals: reducing the probability of county road and other government roads to be damaged by over loaded vehicles. In making sure that trucks do not exceed the weights set, the department hopes to increase the durability of the infrastructures and cut on times needed for maintenance.
One more important objective is to strengthen accountability in the cess collection area where using these weighing instruments will prove advantageous. The improvement of accountability is anticipated to result in better and equitable re-evaluation of charges, to the enhancement of the county’s revenue frameworks. Also, it should be less expensive for owners of trucks to maintain their vehicles since chances of overloading and thereby spoiling them are reduced.
The use of these axle load weighing the devices is also expected to enhance revenue collections for the county. This will be primarily effected through the use of the devices together with the fines and penalties that will be charged on the defaulters. All these measures are intended to produce more revenues and to compel adherence to weight standards and hence add on the financial base of the county.
It also aims at promoting an ethical trade in natural resources miners or harvester and transporters. To this end, the instruments facilitate control over the loads that are being transported to ensure that the trade practices are fair and that all the parties to a particular trade practice are sticking to the agreed terms. It is believed that this will on the same note increase relationships and cooperation with regards to resource and transport sectors. Similarly, the cooperation intends to improve working relationship between other government agencies like KENHA, KURRA, KERRA, and National Police Service.
The Governor launched the devices in the company of Hon. Grace Agola, CECM for Trade, Cooperatives, Enterprise and Industrialization, Chief Officer Michael Oliech Ombambo, Director Trade and the Deputy Director of Weights and Measures. This event was also attended by the following team from KeNHA: Dennis Cheruiyot Higens – Roads Superintendent Axle Load Control (Team Leader), SSP John Gichohi – Officer in Charge of Axle Load and Highway Unit (ALEHU) police unit seconded to KeNHA, Brenda Rao Legal Officer Axle Load Control, Lydia Masaki – Manager Busia Weighbridge, and Levy Boge OCS Busia Weighbridge. The collaborative effort focuses on increasing the road safety, adhering to the regulation and cooperating with the agencies.