here are nine (9) installed weighbridges on the national road network.
These are:
| No | Station Name | Weighbridge Type |
| 1 | Mariakani (Along A109) | Static |
| 2 | Mtwapa (Along B8) | Static |
| 3 | Athi River (Along A104) | Static |
| 4 | Gilgil (Along A104) | Static |
| 5 | Webuye (Along A104) | Static |
| 6 | Rongo (Along A1) | Static |
| 7 | Juja (Along A2) | Static |
| 8 | Busia (Along B1) | Static |
| 9 | Isinya (Along A104) | Static |
To reduce congestion at the weighbridges, KeNHA has installed high speed weigh in motion and multi deck scales at:
- Mariakani
- Athi River
- Gilgil
- Webuye
VIRTUAL WEIGHBRIDGE SYSTEM **New**
AXLE LOAD CONTROL
There has been an increased number of trucks using the roads. All these trucks have to go through the weighbridges to ensure they comply with the authorized axle load limit.
KeNHA mandate on Axle Load Control
- Establish the rate of consumption of the road asset
- Provide evidence for enforcement and prosecution of offenders of vehicle dimension.
- Provide evidence for enforcement and prosecution of offenders of vehicle dimensions
- Advice on legal requirements related to vehicle weights and dimensions
- Ensure adherence to rules and guide- lines on axle load control prescribed under the law
AXLE LOAD LIMIT & FINES
FACILITATION OF CARGO MOVEMENT ON THE NORTHERN CORRIDOR (MOMBASA – MALABA ROAD)
In order to enhance movement of cargo through the Northern Corridor, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), a State Corporation established under the Kenya Roads Act, 2007, with the responsibility for the management, rehabilitation and maintenance of national trunk roads wishes to issue the following guidelines;
1.That following Minister for Transport and Infrastructure’s proposal to amend the Traffic Act, the Authority is enforcing maximum allowable gross vehicle weight limits as indicated in the table below;
| Description | Current Limit | Proposed Limit |
| Rigid Chassis vehicle with 2 axles | 18,000 | 18,000 |
| Rigid Chassis vehicle with 3 axles | 24,000 | 26,000 |
| Rigid Chassis vehicle with 4 axles | 28,000 | 30,000 |
| Vehicle & semi trailer with 3 axles | 28,000 | 28,000 |
| Vehicle & semi trailer with 4 axles | 34,000 | 36,000 |
| Vehicle & semi trailer with 5 axles | 42,000 | 44,000 |
| Vehicle & semi trailer with 6 axles | 48,000 | 50,000 |
| Vehicle & drawbar trailer with 4 axles | 36,000 | 36,000 |
| Vehicle & drawbar trailer with 5 axles | 42,000 | 44,000 |
| Vehicle & drawbar trailer with 7 axles | 56,000 | 56,000 |
2. That all Custom Sealed Containerized Transit Cargo shall only be weighed at the first weighbridge encountered after leaving the Port/ Point of Loading and at the Last Weighbridge at point of exit from the border.
3. That any vehicle established to be overloaded on the Axle or Axle Group but is within the prescribed Gross Vehicle Weight as per the Axle configuration shall be allowed to redistribute its cargo to within tolerance before being re-weighed and allowed to proceed with its journey. Such vehicles will not be charged.
4. That any vehicle which is overloaded on the Axle and Axle Group and cannot redistribute its cargo to within allowable tolerance shall be charged.
5. That an allowance of 5% has been granted on the Legal Axle and Axle Group Weights Limits to take care of possible movement of cargo while on transit as indicated in the table below;
| No Axle Type | Legal Weight (Kg) | 5% Tolerance (Kg | Allowable Weight (Kg) |
| 1 Single Steering Axle | 8,000 | 400 | 8,400 |
| 2 Single axle with four wheels fitted with conventional tyes | 10,000 | 500 | 10,500 |
| 3 Single axle with two wheels fitted with Super Single tyres | 8,500 | 425 | 8,925 |
| 4 Double steering axle having two wheels fitted with conventional tyres | 12,000 | 600 | 12,600 |
| 5 Double steering having four wheels fitted with conventional tyres | 16,000 | 800 | 16,800 |
| 6 Tandem axle group having two wheels fitted with Super Single tyres | 16,000 | 800 | 16,800 |
| 7 Tandem axle group having four wheels fitted with conventional tyres | 18,000 | 900 | 18,900 |
| 8 Triple axle group each having two wheels fitted with Super Single tyres | 22,500 | 1,125 | 23,625 |
| 9 Triple axle group having four wheels fitted with conventional tyres | 24,000 | 1,200 | 25,200 |
We wish to inform the public that all our weighbridge stations operate for 24 hours a day throughout the year. The heavy goods vehicles are therefore encouraged to come to the weighbridge station immediately upon loading to avoid causing congestion at and around the weighbridge stations at particular times thereby inconveniencing other road users.
We urge all the road users particularly the heavy goods vehicles to adhere to the set traffic rules on the national trunk road networks including while approaching the weighbridge stations.
AXLE LOAD CONTROL: Rules and regulations.
It is necessary to know the permitted axle load limits and gross vehicle weights, as a driver, truck owner or loader.
The axle load limits for the various axle/wheel configurations, maximum gross vehicle weight, maximum vehicle dimensions and the minimum fines for excess axle load or gross vehicle weight are set in the Traffic Act (Cap. 403).
LEGAL LIMITS FOR VEHICLES
Permissible Maximum Axle Loads
| Axle Group (with Pneumatic Tyres) | Maximum Axle Load (Kg) | |
| A | Single Steering Axle (2 wheels –single tyres) | 8,000 |
| B | Single Axle (4 wheels –dual tyres) | 10,000 |
| C | Tandem Axle Group (8 wheels- dual tyres) | 18,000 |
| D | Triple Axle Group (12 wheels-dual tyres) | 24,000 |
Maximum Gross Vehicle Weights
| Vehicle and Axle Configuration (Pneumatic Tyres) | Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight | |
| A | Vehicle with 2 axles | 18,000 |
| B | Vehicle with 3 axles | 26,000 |
| C | Vehicle and semi-trailer with total of 3 axles | 28,000 |
| D | Vehicle with 4 axles | 30,000 |
| E | Vehicle and semi-trailer with total of 4 axles | 36,000 |
| F | Vehicle and drawbar trailer with total of 4 axles | 36,000 |
| G | Vehicle and semi-trailer with total of 5 axles | 42,000 |
| H | Vehicle and drawbar trailer with total of 5 axles | 44,000 |
| I | Vehicle and semi-trailer with total of 6 axles | 50,000 |
| J | Vehicle and drawbar trailer with total of 6 axles | 52,000 |
| K | Vehicle and drawbar trailer with total of 7 axles | 56,000 |
Bulk Liquid Tankers
| Type of Vehicle or Trailer | Maximum Volume Bulk Liquid Tank |
| Two axle goods vehicle not exceeding 7,000 kg tare weight | 11 |
| Three axle goods vehicle not exceeding 7,000 kg tare weight | 18 |
| Three axle goods vehicle whose tare weight exceeds7,000 kg but does not exceed 10,000 kg | 14 |
| Two axle draw bar trailer not exceeding 6,000 kg tare weight | 12 |
| Three axle draw bar trailer not exceeding 8,000 kg tare weight | 17; |
| Three axle semi-trailer drawn by a three axle prime mover not exceeding 18,000 kg total tare weight | 35 |
| Three axle semi-trailer drawn by a two axle prime mover not exceeding 17,000 kg total tare weight | 28 |
| Two axle semi-trailer drawn by a three axle prime mover not exceeding 17,000 kg total tare weight | 24 |
| Two axle semi-trailer drawn by a two axle prime mover not exceeding 15,000 kg total tare weight | 19 |
MINIMUM FINES FOR OVERLOADING
| Degree of Each Axle Overloading or Excess Gross Vehicle Weight in Kilograms | Minimum Fines (KSh)
| ||
| Less than 1,000 kg | KSh 5,000 | KSh 10,000 | |
| 1,000 kg or more but less than 2,000 kg | KSh 10,000 | KSh 20,000 | |
| 2,000 kg or more but less than 3,000 kg | KSh 15,000 | KSh 30,000 | |
| 3,000 kg or more but less than 4,000 kg | KSh 20,000 | KSh 40,000 | |
| 4,000 kg or more but less than 5,000 kg | KSh 30,000 | KSh 60,000 | |
| 5,000 kg or more but less than 6,000 kg | KSh 50,000 | KSh 100,000 | |
| 6,000 kg or more but less than 7,000 kg | KSh 75,000 | KSh 150,000 | |
| 7,000 kg or more but less than 8,000 kg | KSh 100,000 | KSh 200,000 | |
| 8,000 kg or more but less than 9,000 kg | KSh 150,000 | KSh 300,000 | |
| 9,000 kg or more but less than 10,000 kg | KSh 175,000 | KSh 350,000 | |
| 10,000 kg or more | KSh 200,000 | KSh 400,000 |
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BULK LIQUID TANK
The Weights and Measures Act (Cap. 513) requires bulk liquid tanks to:
1.Have an identification plate affixed and containing information on name of manufacturer, year of manufacture of the measure, serial number, registration number of the vehicle, for measure mounted on a vehicle and the nominal capacity of the measure
2.All tankers must be calibrated by an officer of the Department of Weights and Measures.
Source: KeNHA
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