Shirikisho’s terms for Kibaki

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The Shirikisho Party of Kenya has endorsed President Kibaki as their favoured presidential candidate — but with strings attached.

The announcement by party director of programmes Sheikh Juma Ngao now puts to rest speculation over their stand and confirms what has been said about the party’s intention since its takeover by Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere.

Sheikh Ngao said the party national executive council meeting at the Reef Hotel last week agreed to back president Kibaki in his re-election bid.
“Out of the 45 officials who attended the meeting, only six opposed the decision, and this means the majority carried the day. We’re now trying to get an appointment to meet the President before he winds up his tour of the Coast,” he said.

Meet conditions

But Sheikh Ngao insisted that the party’s condition for supporting a presidential candidate had to be met.

“We should be allowed to field Shirikisho civic and parliamentary candidates in all the 21 constituencies in the province and a commitment that our party will be allocated senior ministerial positions like Vice President should the coalition form a government,” he said.
Shirikisho Party of Kenya founder members had earlier been enraged by a decision by the party leadership to start campaigning for President Kibaki, saying they had not been consulted.
This followed the erection of banners at strategic places along the streets and roads in Mombasa announcing that Shirikisho was for extension of President Kibaki’s term to 2012.

Founder national treasurer Mwakio Ndau said the party recently taken over by Mr Mwakwere had betrayed the spirit behind the formation of the party that stood for a federal system of government.

President Kibaki opens Mombasa show, announces the revival of Ramisi sugar factory

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President Mwai Kibaki Thursday announced the revival of Ramisi sugar factory and said the government had signed a lease agreement with Kwale International Sugar Company Limited to build a sugar-processing factory at Ramisi.

The President noted that in the agreement, the Sugar Company would develop a large-scale sugarcane farm covering 15,000 acres of land that will be excised out of the Ramisi farm.
Said President Kibaki, "The remaining part of Ramisi farm, totaling 27,000 acres, will be sub-divided into five-acre parcels to settle the identified and deserving squatters in the area who will be assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture to become smallholder sugar cane producers,"
President Kibaki was speaking at the Mombasa show ground when he opened this year's Mombasa International show.

Noting that the Coast Province had enormous Agricultural potential that is yet to be fully realized, President Kibaki said the government will continue to implement additional measures that will raise the productivity of its agricultural and livestock sectors.
He went on to say that the government was addressing the problems associated with land ownership in the province and had put in place measures to fast track the issuance of title deeds so as to further promote greater commercialisation of agriculture.

He said, "In addition, the Government has waived the fees that are normally charged for issuance of title deeds to enable many Kenyans access their title deeds. With these measures, my Government has opened up opportunities for the people of this province to harness the full agricultural and livestock potential of the region.
Saying that during the last financial year the Government spent 6.3 billion shillings in recurrent and development agricultural projects in this province, the President added that besides the resources being targeted directly to the agricultural sector, the Government has continued to invest in support of infrastructure development.

In this regard, President Kibaki announced that the government has spent a total of 4.2 billion shillings on implementation of roads projects in the Province.
"These include national and international trunk roads such as the Miritini-Maji ya Chumvi road, the Nyali Bridge-Kilifi road, Kilifi-Malindi road, the Kengeleni-Kenol road and the Likoni-Ukunda road," he added.
He observed that the investments in roads are being augmented by further investments in rural electrification, which will provide the power for construction of agro-processing plants as well as lighting throughout the province.

Said he, "in the last four years, we have established a total of 107 electricity supply schemes valued at 3 billion shillings. Of these, 54 schemes have been completed, while 41 of the remaining 53 schemes will be completed by December this year. The balance of 12 schemes will be completed by February next year."
President Kibaki further noted that the Government has made substantial investments in water development in the province where it had spent over 700 milion shillings in the last five years.
"We have built and rehabilitated dams and pans, boreholes, and rural water supply schemes to provide clean and safe drinking water for communities in this province," he added.
With respect to coconut farming, which is major activity in the region, the President said he had mandated the Kenya Coconut development authority that he established early this week to revitalise the sub-sector.

Turning to the livestock sub-sector the President said the government had recently boosted its production potential by designating a Disease Free Zone covering 28 ranches mainly in Taita Taveta, Kwale and Malindi Districts.
"The zone will enable us to have a reliable source of live animals for export, and for the local market. Indeed, the Kenya Meat Commission at Kibarani, which I reopened in March this year is now processing up to 3,000 animals per month," he said.
He further said, milk processing in the province had been revitalised following the reopening of the Miritini K.C.C. milk processing plant noting he plant is currently handling between 4,000 to 6,000 litres of milk daily.

The President however noted that both the Kenya Meat Commission Factory and the KCC Milk Processing Plant are operating well below their full capacity and urged farmers in this region to increase production of high quality beef and dairy cattle.
Saying that the government is committed to transforming Mombasa into a vibrant gateway to Eastern Africa and the wider COMESA region, President Kibaki observed that over the last four years, major construction and rehabilitation works have been undertaken in order to raise the status of the Port from that of a feeder port to a hub port.

In addition, he said, the Government is in the process of coming up with a package of incentives to attract local and international investments into the tourism sector noting that as a result of the overall efforts in promoting Kenya as an attractive tourist destination, earnings from tourism grew from 25 billion shillings in 2002 to over 56 billion shillings last year.
On education the President said the newly established Pwani University College would be converted into a fully-fledged University within three years.

On health, President Kibaki was gratified the prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection in the province has dropped to the current level of 5.8 percent from 7.2 percent three years ago. He however cautioned area residents to remain vigilant to keep the disease at bay.

Once again the President asked Kenyans not be distracted from their normal nation building activities due to the impending general elections saying Kenyans had successfully held elections every five years since independence in 1963 and these year's elections were not an exception.
Other speakers were the Minister for Agriculture Kipruto arap Kirwa, the national chairman of the ASK Justice Steward Madzayo and the Mombassa branch chairman Iddi Khamis Mambo.

Also present were Cabinet Ministers Chirau Mwakwere, Morris Dzorro, Moses Akaranga,Kivutha Kibwana, John Michuki, Njeru Ndwiga and Newton Kulundu.

Coast leaders thank President Kibaki for development

President Mwai Kibaki and First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki
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Written By:PPS , Posted: Tue, Aug 28, 2007

Coast Province leaders have thanked President Mwai Kibaki for the developments the province has witnessed in the last four and a half years and assured him of their total support in the coming elections.

In a memorandum read on their behalf by former Assistant Minister Mohammed Jahazi at State Mombasa Monday, the leaders cited revival of Kenya Cooperative Creameries at Miritini and the Kenya Meat Commission at Kibarani as some of the new developments the province has witnessed in the recent times.
"These two factories have improved the socio-economic well-being of the local community through creation of employment," the leaders said.
They also noted that through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), several development projects have been initiated in the province for the benefit of wananchi and lauded the Government's Free Primary Education for the significant increase of enrolment at the primary school level.

On electricity, the leaders thanked President Kibaki for ensuring that the supply of electricity is accelerated in rural areas through the rural electrification programme, saying there are a total of 43 projects being implemented in the province at a cost of Kshs 844 million and six other projects have been completed at a cost of Kshs. 138.6 million.
They welcomed the initiation of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the Women Development Funds, which they said would empower the youth and women in the province.
Addressing the leaders, President Kibaki thanked them for assuring him of Coast residents' support, saying he will not waver in his commitment to improve the welfare of wananchi.
The President also took the opportunity to thank Coast residents and Kenyans in general for paying taxes promptly saying the move has enabled the Government to speed up development countrywide.

Noting that there were hitches in the disbursement of the youth fund, President Kibaki directed the Minister for Youth Affairs and the Permanent Secretary, who were present, to streamline the disbursement process so that the youth in Coast Province could have access to the funds.
On politics, President Kibaki appealed to Kenyans not to allow politics to overshadow the need to develop the country.

Present during the meeting were First Lady Lucy Kibaki, Ministers John Michuki, Morris Dzoro, Suleimani Shakombo, Mohammed Kuti and Chirau Ali Mwakwere, several assistant ministers, members of parliament from the region and Coast Provincial Commissioner Ernest Munyi among others.

President Kibaki assures coast residents of continued development

Hon. Mwakwere

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President Kibaki assures coast residents of continued developmentWritten By:PPS , Posted: Mon, Aug 27, 2007
President Mwai Kibaki has assured Coast residents of his Government's commitment to continue with the development agenda it has set for the region.
Addressing thousands of jubilant wananchi who lined-up the road to give him a tumultuous welcome Monday at the start of his one-week working visit in Coast Province, President Kibaki, who was accompanied by First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki, reaffirmed his personal dedication to improve the lives of all Kenyans.

The President once again pointed out that the Government was implementing development projects in the country in order to improve the country and not because of elections.
"We are implementing the Free Primary Education Programme, public health facilities are stocked with medicine and starting January next year the Government will waive tuition fees in all public secondary schools," President Kibaki said.
Speaking amid "Kibaki tena-Kibaki tena" shouts from wananchi in support for his bid for a second term, President Kibaki urged Kenyans to maintain peace even as the country gears towards the general elections later in the year.

The President stressed the need to consolidate the development gains the country has achieved and discouraged wananchi from engaging in politics of hatred and enmity.
He advised wananchi to vote wisely in the coming elections, saying Kenyans know the politicians who have been politicking at the expense of assisting the electorate in the last four and a half years.
President Kibaki and the First Lady made stopovers at Changamwe and Majengo Sega from where they walked on foot for 6 kilometers to receive greetings from thousands of wananchi who lined-up the road.
Earlier when the President and the First Lady arrived at the Moi International Airport this afternoon, they were warmly received by Coast Province leaders led by Ministers Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Morris Dzoro and Suleiman Shakombo.

Others were Assistant Ministers Abu Chiaba, Joseph Kingi, Annania Mwaboza, Boniface Mghanga and Danson Mungatana, Members of Parliament Abdalla Ngozi, Gonzi Rai, Marsden Madoka, Dr. Naomi Shaban and Harrison Kombe, Mombasa Mayor Khamis Mwidani and Coast Provincial Commissioner Ernest Munyi.
Meanwhile, President Kibaki has Monday signed a Kenya Gazete notice that will pave the way for the establishment of a university at the Coast Province.
The Pwani University College Order,2007, will see the immediate establishment of a university college at the Coast. The university college will be converted into a fully-fledged university within three years.

The President also signed a Kenya Gazette notice providing for the establishment of the Kenya Coconut Development Authority Order 2007.
The main functions of the Authority will be to provide advisory service on matters related to the coconut industry, collect and collate data, maintain a database, document and monitor the industry through registration of all players in the coconut industry.

The authority will also assist in the production, processing, grading, storage, collection, transportation and warehousing of all the produce and by-products destined for markets.
It will also monitor imports and exports of coconut produce and by products for efficient management of the coconut industry, arbitrate disputes arising between the growers and any of the players or among other or players in the industry

President Kibaki assures coast residents of continued development

President Mwai Kibaki has assured Coast residents of his Government's commitment to continue with the development agenda it has set for the region.
Addressing thousands of jubilant wananchi who lined-up the road to give him a tumultuous welcome today at the start of his one-week working visit in Coast Province, President Kibaki, who was accompanied by First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki, reaffirmed his personal dedication to improve the lives of all Kenyans.

The President once again pointed out that the Government was implementing development projects in the country in order to improve the country and not because of elections.
"We are implementing the Free Primary Education Programme, public health facilities are stocked with medicine and starting January next year the Government will waive tuition fees in all public secondary schools," President Kibaki said.

Speaking amid "Kibaki tena-Kibaki tena" shouts from wananchi in support for his bid for a second term, President Kibaki urged Kenyans to maintain peace even as the country gears towards the general elections later in the year.
The President stressed the need to consolidate the development gains the country has achieved and discouraged wananchi from engaging in politics of hatred and enmity.
He advised wananchi to vote wisely in the coming elections, saying Kenyans know the politicians who have been politicking at the expense of assisting the electorate in the last four and a half years.

President Kibaki and the First Lady made stopovers at Changamwe and Majengo Sega from where they walked on foot for 6 kilometers to receive greetings from thousands of wananchi who lined-up the road.

Earlier when the President and the First Lady arrived at the Moi International Airport this afternoon, they were warmly received by Coast Province leaders led by Ministers Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Morris Dzoro and Suleiman Shakombo.
Others were Assistant Ministers Abu Chiaba, Joseph Kingi, Annania Mwaboza, Boniface Mghanga and Danson Mungatana, Members of Parliament Abdalla Ngozi, Gonzi Rai, Marsden Madoka, Dr. Naomi Shaban and Harrison Kombe, Mombasa Mayor Khamis Mwidani and Coast Provincial Commissioner Ernest Munyi.

Meanwhile, President Kibaki has today signed a Kenya Gazete notice that will pave the way for the establishment of a university at the Coast Province.
The Pwani University College Order,2007, will see the immediate establishment of a university college at the Coast. The university college will be converted into a fully-fledged university within three years.

The President also signed a Kenya Gazette notice providing for the establishment of the Kenya Coconut Development Authority Order 2007.
The main functions of the Authority will be to provide advisory service on matters related to the coconut industry, collect and collate data, maintain a database, document and monitor the industry through registration of all players in the coconut industry.

The authority will also assist in the production, processing, grading, storage, collection, transportation and warehousing of all the produce and by-products destined for markets.
It will also monitor imports and exports of coconut produce and by products for efficient management of the coconut industry, arbitrate disputes arising between the growers and any of the players or among other or players in the industry.

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Sources: State House

Nairobi

Party rules out Coast unity talks

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The Shirikisho Party of Kenya (SPK) has ruled out meetings of all Coast Province MPs to map out the region’s political future.

Party leader Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere said Coast MPs would not convene such talks as the original plan was for all legislators in the region to join Shirikisho.
"We called meetings of all MPs to decide the destiny of Coast Province long before MPs from other regions did so. But some of our MPs boycotted such meetings while others refused to move with us to Shirikisho," Mwakwere said on Sunday.

Mwakwere has sharply differed with National Heritage minister Mr Suleiman Shakombo, who heads the Narc Kenya team at the Coast.
He has also differed with ODM presidential aspirant Mr Najib Balala. Mwakwere recently ditched Narc-Kenya for Shirikisho, together with Tourism and Wildlife minister Mr Morris Dzoro, Msambweni MP Mr Abdalla Ngozi and Assistant ministers Mr Joseph Kingi and Mr Anania Mwaboza.

Party resolved to amend constitution

In an interview, Mwakwere said those who wanted the region to unite should join his party. He was reacting to ongoing meetings among MPs and influential politicians in Western and Rift Valley provinces to find a common alliance ahead of the General Election.

Mwakwere, who is the Matuga MP, said it was unlikely for local MPs to come together unless they all joined Shirikisho. "Instead of going back to meetings, we are soldiering on and those who want the region to speak with one voice should move to Shirikisho," Mwakwere said.
He claimed MPs who refused to move to Shirikisho betrayed the Coastal people and should wait to be rejected through the ballot box.

Meanwhile, Shirikisho resolved to amend its constitution to allow the creation of the posts of party leader and deputy, during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The two positions, held by Mwakwere and Dzoro, are not in the party’s constitution and have been the subject of debate.

The party’s Secretary-General, Mr Yusuf Abubakar, said the NEC meeting held at Hotel Dolce, Mombasa, resolved to amend the constitution to put to an end the wrangles over claims that the two positions were created exclusively for the Cabinet ministers.

Story by

Patrick Beja and

Ngumbao Kithi .

Shirikisho won’t field presidential candidate – Mwakwere

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Time is not ripe for Shirikisho Party of Kenya (SPK) to field a presidential candidate in this year’s General Election, party leader Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere has said.

Mwakwere, who is also Transport minister and Matuga MP, said the issues of cost would prevent the party from fielding a strong presidential candidate. He said even if Shirikisho picked him as its presidential flag bearer, he would raise the question of how to finance the presidential campaigns.

Speaking to The Saturday Standard on phone, Mwakwere said a serious presidential candidate should raise at least Sh500 million and another Sh210 million for the constituencies.
"Many of the presidential aspirants are jokers. They declare interest in the presidency without considering the cost," he said. Mwakwere indicated that President Kibaki was best placed to contest the seat. But there have been disagreements on who the party should back.
Recently, the party appointed a five-member team to negotiate for a coalition.

The team opted to open talks with the Kalonzo Musyokaled ODM-Kenya instead of parties friendly to President Kibaki, a move not well received by some party members. Mwakwere spoke ahead of his party’s National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Saturday in Mombasa to set the agenda for the National Delegates Conference (NDC) on August 25. Elsewhere, two ministers have said President Kibaki deserved a second term due to his exemplary development record.

Wildlife assistant minister Kalembe Ndile and his Labour counterpart Ms Adelina Mwau urged Kenyans to reciprocate the President’s achievements by re-electing him.
Speaking in Mtito Andei town in Kalembe’s Kibwezi constituency during a Narc-Kenya rally, the two leaders told off Kibaki’s critics terming them prophets of doom.

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By Patrick Beja and Daniel Nzia

Published on August 18, 2007, 12:00 am

Shirikisho party may support president Kibaki's re-election bid

Amb. Mwakwere______

The Shirikisho party may support president Mwai Kibaki's re-election bid.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's Party national executive committee meeting in Mombasa the party leader Ali Chirau Mwakwere said it is now official that the party will not field a presidential candidate in the coming general elections due to lack of finances to support the campaigns.
Mwakwere said the party is looking forward to forming a coalition with other likeminded parties and support president Kibaki's re-election adding that he is the only one who can finance a serious presidential campaign.
The party is expected to hold a national delegates conference on August 25th where the matter will be finalised.

Written By:Faith Pino ,

Posted: Sat, Aug 18, 2007

Shirikisho party may not field a presidential candidate

Shirikisho Party of Kenya may pullout of the presidential race to support the coalition that has a stronger presidential contestant.
Accompanied by four other coast MPs who decamped from Narc Kenya to Shirikisho, the party leader Chirau Ali Mwakwere confirmed that the party would not field a candidate to contest for the presidential seat.

Addressing a Shirikisho District delegate meeting accompanied by Kisauni MP Anania Mwaboza, Chirau said that the party has started coalition talks with other parties and says it has left its doors open for delegates to decide the presidential candidate to support.

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Written By:KBC Reporter ,

Posted: Mon, Aug 13, 2007

Shirikisho fails to give hint on flag bearer

Shirikisho Party of Kenya yesterday kept its members guessing on the possibility of fielding a presidential candidate in the December General Election.

A high-profile meeting attended by about 600 elders from Coast Province was, however, told that a decision would be made after the party has conducted popularisation rallies.

Earlier, Kisauni MP Anania Mwaboza had said the party was still consolidating and it might take up to 10 years to be ready to field a presidential candidate.
But party leader Chirau Ali Mwakwere, who is the minister for Transport, said the issue would still depend on the decision of party delegates.

He said in its quest for political strength, the party will not deal with individuals but other parties noting that it already commanded a regional bloc that should not be taken for granted.
“There are however people from other political parties who have started a smear campaign saying that Shirikisho is only for the Mijikenda community yet the composition of the leaders and membership cuts across the coast and the entire country,” he said.
Push interests
His colleague in Tourism and deputy party leader Morris Dzoro said there was need for the party to push for the interests of the coastal communities noting that other political parties had already allocated themselves positions.

Msambweni MP Abdala Ngozi said the party should move fast and start its series of rallies to keep up the tempo that it has gained since its re-launch.
Magarini MP Harrison Kombe said the party was pushing for the federal system of government to give Coast people a bigger say in the distribution of resources.

Daily Nation
Story by NATION Correspondent
Publication Date: 2007/08/13

Political supremacy looms in Coast Province

A war of political supremacy is looming in coast province between Shirikisho party and Narc Kenya.

Leaders of both parties have promised a bruising battle for votes in the coast province.
The battle for political supremacy in coast province is peaking to an all time high as the two main political parties in the region prepare to consolidate their power base.
Narc Kenya set the stage for heightened activity after officials announced they had picked candidates to unseat the entire incumbent Mps in the Coast province who subscribe to the Shark party.

However Shirikisho is not taking that lying down and has vowed to teach the flower party a lesson similar to the one witnessed during the Magarini by election.
The two parties are plotting for a show down of popular might as candidates shop for parties to run in the December General election.

Shirikisho's Chairman Chirau Mwakwere said the party will be meeting in two week's time to agree on it's presidential candidate.

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Written By:Daniel Waitere/Jason Murimi,
Posted: Sun, Aug 12, 2007

New electronic driving licences to be introduced soon

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New electronic driving licences will be introduced by the end of this year. Transport minister Ali Chirau Mwakwere says the smart card driving licences will help eliminate fake driving licences and enhance the enforcement of traffic rules.
In an interview at Channel One studio, Mwakwere also absolved his ministry from blame in the deterioration of enforcement of transport rules in the matatu sector.
Though the road carnage has reduced by almost half to 2,000 deaths a year, the ministry of transport considers this number still too high.
It attributes 90 percent on careless driving. It is for this reason that the noose is now tightened for errant drivers.

The smart driving licence will contain an electronic code on which policemen will enter record of traffic offences to keep record on habitual offenders.
In order to eliminate the risks of handling cash from instant fines, motorists found flouting traffic offences will be given up to one week to pay the fine to recognized offices.

The smart driving licence will help deal with quack drivers who obtain driving licences illegally. In relation to the matatu menace that is creeping back after the Michuki rules, Mwakwere said their role here as the ministry stops at the formulation of policies and not implementation of the rules.

Written By:Kennedy Osir , Posted: Thu, Aug 09, 2007

Chinese airlines to seek KQ partnership

By Brian Adero

Chinese aviation officials say they want their airlines to partner with Kenya Airways (KQ) on direct flights from Kenya to their country. Mr Yang Guoqing, the deputy minister in-charge of China Civil Aviation, says that due to KQ’s wider spread in terms of market expansion, they have identified the national carrier as a strong airline in Africa worth working with.

He said that although China signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (Basa) with Kenya three years ago, there is no need for airlines from China to launch direct flights to Nairobi. "Though the agreement allows airlines from both countries to operate between us, we want our airlines to work with KQ," he said.

He spoke during a visit by a Chinese aviation delegation to Transport minister, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, on Thursday.

KQ flies four times a week to Guangzhou, China. Guoqing said that during an earlier visit to KQ’s Embakasi headquarters, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Titus Naikuni, had talked of KQ’s intention to expand to other parts in China.

With more than 30 airlines serving both domestic and International routes, China’s aviation market is dominated by Air China based in Guangzhou, China Eastern based in Shanghai and China Southern based in Guangzhou.

Guoquing is optimistic that China Southern, which is based in Guangzhou, could soon sign a joint venture with KQ, which will make a lot of contribution to the existing agreements between the two airlines.

Mwakwere assured the delegation that Kenya has made a lot of effort in meeting international aviation standards, which has made Nairobi one of the leading aviation hubs in Africa.

Kenya to rehabilitate transport network on Lake Victoria

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The Kenyan ministry of transport has rolled out plans to rehabilitate major marine, air and road transport infrastructure in the Lake Victoria port city of Kisumu to boost trade in the East African region, according to government official Thursday.

Top on the list is the rehabilitation of the main pier at the Kisumu port, which is in a state of disrepair, transport Minister, Ali Chirau Mwakwere, who toured the dilapidated infrastructure told PANA.Wagon ferries and the dry dock where marine vessels had been undergoing repair works would also be rehabilitated to strengthen trade through Lake Victoria and ease transport costs on roads.

Mwakwere, however, clarified that the Kisumu pier was still being managed by his ministry and was not part of the concession given to the Rift Valley Railways Company, which is presently managing the Kenyan and Uganda railway networks.He said the government was, instead, working in conjunction with the Rift Valley Railways Company to dredge the port and rehabilitate cargo ferries, he clarified.

Mwakwere challenged entrepreneurs in the region to take advantage of the inland cargo depot at Kisumu, which has state of the art facilities but was currently being under-utilized, with only 21 percent of the facility being put to use.He also announced that Kisumu Airport would be expanded to international standards.

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PANA

Minister warns over axle load limits

Business Section, August 2, 2007

Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere yesterday faulted the Motor Vehicle Inspectorate Department for failing to tame unscrupulous transporters from fitting their trailers with excessive axle load.

Mwakwere reminded the department that the Government spends Sh50 million to repair just one kilometer of worn out road.
He said the ministry has information that the trailers are being fitted with dummy axle loads that make them have a load capacity in excess of the recommended ones.
Mwakwere said the scenario has made Government’s projections of road infrastructure planning and maintenance be unpredictable.

The Department is under his docket and is charged with ensuring that the vehicles on Kenyan road meet the inspection specifications as per the laid down laws.
Consequently, the minister released new guidelines to govern trailers through a Traffic Amendment on axle load limits. The new Legal Notice NO.145 of June 28, 2007 will take effect on December 1, 2007 to supersede Legal Notice NO.112 of 1999.
The amendments have it that, the maximum number of axles which may be fitted on any vehicle or trailer combination will be seven provided that the vehicle axle configurations do not exceed three group axles. No vehicle with a rigid body shall have more than two axle groups, no vehicle with a rigid body have more than three axles except for a vehicle with two steering axles and that there shall be no vehicle or trailer with hydraulic, mechanical or pneumatic mechanism for lifting of one or more axles.

If a vehicle or trailer is nabbed using hydraulic, mechanical or pneumatic mechanism for lifting of one or more axles on the road, then such vehicle, trailer or both will be impounded and all the licenses withdrawn for a period of two years, Mwakwere warned. The amendments, he said, are aimed at harmonising Axle Load and Gross Vehicle Weight limits to correspond with Comesa standards.

Story by, MWANGI MUIRURI
Publicatiob date: August 2, 2007


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From The Daily Nation

COURT SETS ASIDE CARGO RULES:

The High Court yesterday stopped the implementation of rules a minister was announcing at a news conference.

Transport minister Chirau Mwakwere was announcing rules that would have forced transporters to reduce the amount of cargo they carry.
Lady Justice Roselyne Wendoh issued the temporary order halting the implementation of the rules following an application by 25 companies.

Mr Mwakwere was, at more or less the same time, announcing that lorries with more than 12 tyres at the rear would not be allowed on Kenyan roads beginning December 1.
The rules, which were published in the official Kenya Gazette on June 28, were meant to harmonise road carriage regulations in the Comesa region, said the Transport minister. The issue of axle load limits has been in the focus because of the damage to roads.
The application by the companies is challenging the legality of the rules contained in the June 28 legal notice.
Prescribed penalty

Under the rule, the Transport minister prescribed a penalty of impounding and withdrawal of licence of vehicles for a period of two years for non-compliance.
Through lawyer P.L.O. Lumumba, the companies said the rules also prohibited the use of trailers with hydraulic mechanism for lifting of one or more axles.

The rules, if enforced, they said, would render more than 5,000 vehicles and trailers owned by private companies useless, leading to loss of colossal sums of money.
According to the companies the implementation of the rules would also have a grave effect on the industry and its more than 50,000 employees. Among the companies are Multiple Hauliers (EA), P.N. Mashru, A.O. Bayusuf and Sons, Montrex, Anwar Ali and Brothers, Mohamed Ahmed Bayusuf and Sons, Silvester Parcel Services, Bash Hauliers and African Line Transport.
Dr Lumumba requested the court to determine the issue of the legality of the rules before December so that his clients would know whether they would still be in business.
After hearing Dr Lumumba’s submissions, the judge ordered the companies to file their main application and serve it on the Transport minister in the next 15 days.

Mr Mwakwere said the regulations would only allow lorries with three axles (12 tyres at the back) that carried a maximum of 48,000 kilogrammes of cargo to use roads.

Story by PATRICK NZIOKA and JILLO KADIDA
Publication Date: 8/2/2007

Enforce rules on road load

Editorial, Thursday, August 2, 2007

The new rules on the weight vehicles should carry on roads come at an appropriate time.
This is a time when the state of roads is on the national agenda. There is as much hue and cry over dilapidated highways and link roads as there is call for speedy completion of the more than 60 projects going on in all parts of the country.
Heavy trucks have played a significant role in road damage. And this is because they carry loads that are too heavy for the roads to bear.

Major highways are the main casualties. The deep marks on the roads are clear testimonies of this. Transport minister Mr Ali Mwakwere’s new rules on axle loads and vehicle weight that take effect on December 1 are welcome. Now, trucks with between three and seven axles must not exceed a load limit of 8,000kg each.

Once implemented, the Government will save at least Sh50 million spent on repairing a kilometre of damaged road. If the roads are spared the excess weight, they will last longer.
The minister warned against flouting the rules — vehicles will be impounded and owners’ licences revoked. This is as it should be. However, the problem has not been lack of rules, but implementation.

The police, Roads and Transport ministries, the Transport and Licensing Board and the Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit should enforce the rules.