Eldoret’s Sh9.6 billion bypass that truck drivers won’t use

Instead, many drivers choose to ignore it and continue using the old, narrow city centre route, occasionally causing frustrating traffic jams that stall the city’s economic heartbeat. It was seen as a critical solution at its inception, but it has failed to deliver on its promise.

Branching off the main Uganda highway at Cheplaskei, the 40-kilometre bypass passes through Kapseret on the Eldoret-Kisumu road before rejoining the Uganda highway at Leseru, commonly known as the Maili Tisa junction.

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Leaders from Uasin Gishu County once hailed the bypass as a relief to the CBD’s congestion, assuring that heavy trucks without business in the city would be diverted to the bypass. Yet, three years later, long-distance trucks still flood the CBD, worsening traffic snarls, especially during rainy seasons.

The Daily Nation spoke to truck drivers to establish their reasons for avoiding the Bypass. Among others, they cited insecurity along the bypass, particularly at night, lack of social amenities such as reliable fuel stations, markets, shopping centres, guest houses, and poor street lighting.

Safety concerns are particularly pressing at known black spots along the bypass, with fatal accidents and fears over the dangerous areas discouraging drivers from using the route.

“This road is good, but at night it is risky due to lack of security lights, lack of well-established markets and shopping centres, including guest houses,” said Mr Richard Namwanda, a long-distance driver from Uganda. He also expressed concern about the Kaptinga steep, a notorious accident black spot along the bypass.

“Personally, I fear using this road due to its steepness, which is prone to accidents. Apart from the steep, the government ought to establish security lights along the bypass,” he stated.

Kenyan trucker Mr Maasai Kaginya echoed these concerns, stating: “I like using this bypass, but sometimes I avoid it due to lack of social amenities and petrol stations. At night, I avoid the route altogether.”

Many long-distance truckers argue that the city centre offers quicker access to essential services and better facilities such as fuel stations, shops, and lodging, a convenience that continues to draw them away from the bypass.

The drivers have appealed to local communities to invest in social infrastructure along the bypass to make it a safer and more convenient option.

On the other hand, residents of Eldoret blame weak enforcement and poor coordination for the failure to fully integrate the bypass into drivers’ routes.

“Police must enforce the law that requires truck drivers to use the bypass instead of bringing cargo through the city center,” said Mr Pius Kipkosgei, a resident of the Juakali area.

Frustrating traffic jams

He lamented that despite the existence of a well-built bypass, poor planning has allowed trucks to continue using the CBD roads, creating heavy traffic jams.

Authorities say they have faced significant challenges enforcing the use of the bypass. Despite government directives and the establishment of multi-sectoral committees, trucks still clog the Eldoret CBG daily, causing long and frustrating traffic jams that affect residents and commuters alike, especially on rainy days.

Reached for comment, County Police Commander Mr Benjamin Mwanthi said there is currently no law prohibiting trucks from accessing the Eldoret CBD. However, he urged drivers with no business in Eldoret CBD to use the bypass through Cheplaskei to Maili Tisa via Kapseret.  

“It is upon the county government to work with stakeholders, including the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), to create awareness and develop solutions to reduce congestion,” said Mr Mwanthi.

Mid-May, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii issued a directive banning all long-distance trucks and lorries from using the main highway that passes through the city as part of measures to decongest Eldoret, particularly during rainy seasons.

A multi-sectoral committee chaired by County Commissioner Edison Nyale was formed to enforce the ban, but enforcement efforts have been hindered by the lack of legal backing and resistance from drivers.

“We tried enforcing the ban in vain because many drivers claimed they had cargo to offload, needed to refuel, or required accommodation in the city on their way to neighboring countries,” explained Commissioner Nyale.

Mr Nyale urged the Uasin Gishu County Assembly to enact a bylaw barring drivers with no business in the CBD from passing through it.

“To completely bar these drivers, we need a bylaw because no current law prohibits them from accessing the CBD,” he said.

Eldoret Municipal Board Chairman Julius Kitur confirmed that efforts are ongoing to ensure trucks without business in the city are diverted to the bypass.

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“We have agreed not to allow long-distance lorries to pass through the city center because they cause unnecessary traffic jams. Exceptions are rare,” said Mr Kitur.

In April, an Eldoret resident, Mr Albert Kimutai, petitioned KeNHA to urgently restrict long-distance truck trailers from passing through the city and compel them to use the bypass. Mr Kimutai warned that increasing population and vehicle traffic have turned Eldoret and its surroundings into a congestion hotspot.

Arguing that the narrow Uganda Road was never designed to accommodate such heavy vehicles, he stressed that heavy trucks passing through the CBD pose serious public safety risks, with fatal accidents involving trucks and motorcycles likely to be reduced if trucks were diverted to the bypass.

The Daily Nation learnt that the county government is working with KeNHA to ensure the bypass’s full utilisation, although KeNHA’s regional office deferred further comments to their head office.

A joint security team is, in the meantime, working to deny access to drivers without business in the city at the Cheplaskei flyover junction.

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