Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has appealed to tanker operators and long-distance truck drivers to comply with traffic regulations requiring them to use the Southern Bypass following a tanker explosion along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway that killed three people and left over 20 others with burn wounds.
Speaking after the incident, the governor warned that the consequences would have been far worse had the explosion occurred within Eldoret’s Central Business District (CBD).
“Trailers should not come through CBD because they have the South Bypass from Cheplaskei to Maili Tisa,” said Bii as he urged tanker operators and other drivers to adhere to the directive to enhance road safety and prevent similar incidents.
“I appeal to tankers and drivers to obey these rules so that we minimise such losses. If the incident was in CBD we would have lost many people,” he said.
Bii also called on traffic authorities to fully enforce existing regulations requiring heavy commercial vehicles to use the bypass.
“We ask the Traffic Department to ensure the requirement for long-distance trucks to use the bypass is implemented fully,” he said.
The governor’s remarks come amid concerns over the movement of heavy commercial vehicles through Eldoret town despite the availability of the Southern Bypass linking Chepskei on the Eldoret-Nakuru Highway and Maili Tisa on the Eldoret-Webuye Highway.
Watch the governor speaking on the Eldoret bypass use here.
