The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Traffic Department have launched an intensified nationwide road safety operation as the festive season begins, reintroducing mobile courts and Alcoblow breathalyzer testing.
Traffic Commandant Dr. Frederick Ochieng said enforcement will be more aggressive than in previous years, with a shift toward nighttime operations when most fatal crashes occur.
“Most accidents happen at night. We are going to use speed guns and Alcoblow,” Dr. Ochieng said.
Mobile courts will once again operate along major highways, enabling swift prosecution of offenders. Authorities say the on-the-spot judicial system will curb loopholes often exploited by traffic violators.
In a new anti-corruption push, the public will be allowed to record and report traffic officers soliciting or receiving bribes. A toll-free number, soon to be displayed on major highways, will allow citizens to submit video evidence.
Road safety activists, however, argue that tougher oversight of long-distance trucks and boda boda operators is urgently needed. David Njoroge Kiarie, chairperson of the Road Safety Association of Kenya, warned that poorly regulated heavy commercial vehicles and motorcycles contribute disproportionately to fatal crashes.
The crackdown follows worrying statistics showing 3,890 deaths from road accidents by October, over 85 more than the same period last year.
Authorities say the enforcement drive will continue throughout the festive season in an effort to reduce fatalities and ensure safer travel during the holidays.
Source: Citizen Digital
Written By Rodney Mbua
