Ledama Pushes for Digital Overhaul to End Night Corruption at Weighbridges

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina has renewed calls for Kenya to digitize its transport monitoring systems, saying rampant night-time corruption at mobile weighbridges is crippling trade and damaging investor confidence.

In a statement on X, the senator said the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has failed to maintain integrity in its oversight role, accusing some officers of turning weighbridge inspections into a lucrative nighttime racket.

Ledama said truck drivers and logistics firms face routine extortion under the cover of darkness, with rogue officials demanding bribes to clear vehicles that should otherwise pass inspection. 

He noted that these illegal activities delay cargo movement and inflate business costs.

“Night operations at mobile weighbridges have become synonymous with corruption—targeting truckers, delaying goods, and sabotaging trade,” Ledama wrote. “Instead of oversight, they’re stifling economic growth.”

He urged the government to dismantle the current system and introduce a fully automated, technology-driven monitoring framework that would ensure transparency and real-time tracking of all weighbridge operations.

According to the senator, digitization would not only seal corruption loopholes but also safeguard Kenya’s position as a regional trade hub. 

The Northern Corridor, which connects the Port of Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan, relies heavily on smooth cargo movement.

Ledama’s remarks echo growing frustration among truckers and logistics players, who have accused KeNHA of inconsistent enforcement and arbitrary penalties. 

Several industry associations have also urged the Ministry of Roads and Transport to fast-track reforms and embrace digital solutions that can eliminate human interference.

The senator’s proposal signals a wider debate on the future of Kenya’s transport regulation, with mounting pressure for accountability and modernization in one of the country’s most critical economic sectors.