The section of the road that was vandalised. /KeNHA/X
The arrest was made through the Axle Load Enforcement and Highway Unit (ALEHU) Mombasa.
KeNHA said the suspect who was found in possession of a mason’s hammer, had previously been arrested for a similar offense in 2024 and committed to a six-month community service.
The authority said he is currently detained at the Changamwe police station and will be arraigned on Tuesday.
KeNHA urged Kenyans to safeguard road infrastructure and report any acts of vandalism to their offices or the nearest police station.
A road/highway reinforcement bar is a steel bar or mesh used to reinforce concrete structures in roads, highways or bridges.
The bars are often referred to as rebar (short for reinforcing bar).
The primary purpose of reinforcement bars is to increase the tensile strength of concrete, which is naturally strong in compression but weak in tension.
Concrete alone tends to crack under tension, so rebar helps prevent this by providing extra strength.
The rebar is typically placed in a grid pattern within the concrete to distribute loads and resist stress.
In highways and roads, reinforcement bars are particularly important in areas with heavy traffic, load-bearing structures and regions prone to environmental stress (like temperature fluctuations and moisture).
These bars can be made from various types of steel and may be coated or treated to prevent rusting, especially in areas with high humidity or exposure to chemicals.
Reinforcement bars are critical in ensuring that concrete roadways and highways are durable, stable, and able to withstand long-term use and heavy traffic loads.
Types of rebar used on roads and highways include standard steel rebar which is the common type, epoxy-coated rebar which is used for areas that are exposed to harsh conditions like moisture or road salts (used in cold climates for de-icing).
The stainless steel rebar is used in areas with particularly aggressive environmental conditions (such as near the coast or regions with high humidity), for its superior corrosion resistance.
The galvanised rebar is usually coated with a layer of zinc to protect it from rust and corrosion, making it suitable for areas exposed to chemicals or extreme weather.
