Written By Joyce Nzomo
A man has been fined KSh 25,000 by a Thika court after pleading guilty to drunk driving along the busy Thika-Garissa highway.
Thomas Musembi was arrested on the night of June 22, 2025, near Makongeni while behind the wheel of a Toyota Noah, registration number KDP 4**G.
Police officers from Makongeni Police Station stopped him and conducted a breathalyzer test, which returned an alcohol level of 61.5 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath—well above the legal limit.
Musembi admitted to having consumed alcohol earlier in the day but told the magistrate he believed he was sober enough to drive by the time he got behind the wheel.
The prosecution relied on the breathalyzer results as key evidence in the case. The court noted the growing number of drunk driving cases on major roads and the danger posed to both drivers and pedestrians.
While issuing the sentence, the magistrate said Musembi had shown “a reckless disregard for human life” and warned of tougher penalties for similar offences.
He was fined KSh 25,000, or in default, will serve seven months in prison. The court also reminded the public that drunk driving remains a serious traffic offence.
