The National Police Service (NPS) in collaboration with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has ordered a nationwide crackdown on motorists and vehicles on the roads in a bid to curb the recent spate of accidents.
In a statement by NPS spokesperson Bruno Shioso on Wednesday, June 8, the crackdown is aimed at weeding out all the non-compliant motor vehicles and motorists who are violating the Traffic Act.
“The National Police Service and the National Transport and Safety Authority have noted with concern an alarming increase in road traffic crashes incidences on our roads. The two agencies, NPS and NTSA further regret all the fatalities and injuries as a result of these unfortunate crashes.”
According to the statement, a total of 1,968 deaths have been reported as against 1,800 as of the 3rd of June of 2022 and 2021 respectively, giving a positive variance of 9.3 per cent.
The NPS also reminded all road users to remain vigilant because most of the accidents result from human error.
“It is regrettable that most crashes are a result of human-related factors. Motorists and other road users are therefore reminded to remain vigilant, cautious, and responsible whilst in charge of a motor vehicle, or whenever using a public road as pedestrians. A higher level of consciousness and personal responsibility towards oneself and others shall go a long way in mitigating the rising incidences of crashes,” NPS stated.
The police highlighted a number of accidents, including a fatal collision between a public transport bus ferrying passengers from Garissa to Nairobi and a saloon vehicle on Thika-Mwingi Road. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of seven people and the injury of five more.
It is for those reasons that the Inspector of Police Hilary Mutyambai and NTSA Director-General George Njao ordered the nationwide crackdown.
“The Inspector-General of Police and the NTSA Director-General has therefore directed a joint Multi-Agency crackdown to weed out all noncompliant motor vehicles and motorists, who are violating the Traffic Act and related laws. The directive takes immediate effect,” the statement read.
To achieve the goals of this campaign, all motorists and other road users are asked to work with law enforcement officials at the national and county levels.
To prevent causing inconvenience to passengers, Mutyambai further advised that non-compliant vehicles to be kept off public roadways.
The NPS and NTSA expressed their sympathies to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.
