The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has launched a fresh crackdown targeting sugarcane transporters whose operations have been flagged as dangerous to road users.
In a statement on Sunday, November 23, KeNHA raised concerns over the growing trend of tractors transporting sugarcane at night without proper safety measures, warning that the practice continues to endanger motorists, pedestrians, and other road users.
"Sugarcane transportation aboard tractors continues to pose a grave safety risk to road users, particularly at night when visibility is low. Many of the transporting tractors are unroadworthy, often operating with faulty lighting systems and carrying bulky loads that extend beyond permissible dimensions. It is these conditions that significantly increase the likelihood of accidents," the statement read.
KeNHA revealed that its enforcement teams had already begun taking action.
According to the agency, one tractor had been intercepted on the Kisumu-Busia Road after officers noted that it was dangerously overloaded.
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"The Busia Weighbridge mobile enforcement team, while on duty, intercepted one such tractor, KTCB 694W, on the Kisumu–Busia Road transporting sugarcane stacked to an unsafe height of five (5) metres, exceeding the legal limit of 4.2 metres," the statement added.
Following the interception, KeNHA confirmed that the driver of the tractor would face legal action.
"The driver is set to be charged under Section 55(2) as read with Section 58(1) of the Traffic Act, Cap 403, when he appears in the Busia Law Court on Monday November, 24, 2025," the statement further read.
KeNHA noted that the crackdown is part of a sustained effort to enhance road safety and protect the country’s transport infrastructure.
"KeNHA reiterates that strict enforcement of traffic and vehicle load regulations is vital to protect road users and safeguard Kenya’s road infrastructure," the statement concluded.
This comes months after the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) issued a new directive requiring all sand transporters to obtain a sand transportation permit.
In a public notice, NEMA said the directive mandated by the recently enacted Sand Harvesting Regulations, 2024, aims to promote sustainable utilization of sand as a natural resource while safeguarding the environment.
"This is to bring to the attention of sand transporters that the Sand Harvesting Regulations, 2024 require that you obtain a sand transportation permit from NEMA. All Sand Transporters are therefore required to apply for Permit to Transport sand immediately," the notice read.
The notice clarified that the regulations were promulgated by the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.
NEMA asked all sand transporters to immediately apply for a permit to transport sand by logging into the NEMA website at www.nema.go.ke, through the licensing portal for Sand Harvesting.
