ELDORET, Kenya – An Eldoret resident, Albert Kimutai, has formally petitioned the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) to restrict long-distance truck trailers from passing through Eldoret town and instead mandate their use of the Eldoret Southern Bypass.
In his letter, Kimutai cites increasing traffic congestion, road safety concerns, and growing public health risks due to the presence of heavy-duty trucks navigating the town’s central business district and nearby residential areas.
Kimutai highlighted a recent tragic accident involving a trailer and a motorcycle that claimed the life of a pillion passenger as one of many similar incidents in the town.
He warned that such accidents are becoming common on urban roads ill-suited for large trucks, raising serious public safety concerns.
He further noted that Eldoret’s urban center has seen rapid population growth, which has intensified pressure on road infrastructure.
The passage of large commercial trucks through busy roads such as Uganda Road, he argues, contributes to increased traffic congestion, infrastructure wear and tear, air and noise pollution, and safety risks to pedestrians, schoolchildren, cyclists, and public service vehicles.
Kimutai criticized the underuse of the Eldoret Southern Bypass, a project designed specifically to reduce these risks by offering a safer and more efficient route for heavy commercial transport around the town.
He urged KENHA to take immediate action by enforcing bypass use among long-distance trucks to safeguard public safety and preserve the integrity of Eldoret’s urban infrastructure.
