Residents of Syiokimau, Machakos County have imposed a ban on using feeder roads within the area by trucks transporting sand arguing that they damage them.
Addressing the press on Saturday through their spokesperson John Kiilu, the residents said the ban is to ensure that the roads, which they spend lots of their own money to maintain, are kept in good condition.
"We cannot continue allowing sand transporting trucks to use feeder roads unless they are transporting sand to construction sites within Syiokimau area," said Kiilu.
He argued that the trucks are usually overloaded and used the roads only to evade passing through weigh-bridge officers at Mlolongo town for fear of arrest or hefty taxations.
The residents advised the truck operators and owners to use main roads in the area while transporting sand due to their heavy weights.
Peter Mwangi, a Syiokimau resident said that the situation of the roads were worsening since the trucks started using the roads.
Mwangi said that, as residents, they were not ready to repair and maintain the roads using their own resources only for them to be spoilt by the trucks whose owners do not contribute to maintenance of the roads.
"Our vehicles get stuck and spoilt every now and again after the roads are destroyed by the heavily overloaded sand trucks," said Mwangi.
The residents said they would put barriers on the roads and ensure that only ‘licensed’ trucks were allowed into Syiokimau adding that specific stickers will put on those to operate in the estate.