Several Kenyans were on Sunday arrested by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) officials in a nationwide crackdown aimed at restoring sanity on Kenyan roads.
In the morning crackdown, NTSA in collaboration with police arrested excess passengers in Thika, Kiambu county.
Those arrested are being held in custody before their arraignment on Tuesday.
"Thika, Kiambu County: Excess passengers off-loaded and detained. To avoid any inconveniences, do not board an overloaded vehicle," NTSA said.
Thika, Kiambu County: Excess passengers off-loaded and detained.
To avoid any inconveniences, do not board an overloaded vehicle. #UsalamaBarabarani pic.twitter.com/OVBIxCoOqP— NTSA KENYA (@ntsa_kenya) March 31, 2024
Earlier, 20 drunk drivers were arrested in a similar crackdown along Kiambu Road.
In the night crackdown, NTSA and police laid an unexpected ambush along the road and arrested all drivers found to be drunk or have alcohol beyond the legal limits as drivers.
"We have nabbed a number of people who have been found to be drunk or rather have alcohol beyond the legal limit as drivers. Drinking does affect how you operate your vehicle on a number of issues. That's why we are asking Kenyans to ensure that they are lawful. We are doing this operation with the National Police Service to ensure Kenyans are safe all the time," NTSA said.
The arrests followed hours after the authority impounded a 14-seater matatu ferrying 31 students in Meru County.
The driver of the vehicle managed to escape after the officers approached the vehicle, efforts to arrest him are currently underway.
"A 14 seater PSV was found carrying 31 students from Tharaka Nithi County. The driver managed to escape and efforts are underway to apprehend him. Alternative transport arrangments were made for the learners," NTSA said.
The authority has intensified operations across the country in a move meant to curb road carnage.
Another crackdown
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, several vehicles and motorbikes were impounded after NTSA erected roadblocks on major highways across the country.
The national crackdown comes in the wake of increased deaths from road accidents.
According to statistics released by NTSA last week, road accidents had risen by 7 per cent between January 1, 2024 and March 20, 2024, compared to the same time last year.
NTSA said 1,026 people died in road accidents during the period this year.
Attributing the deaths to a breach in road safety regulations, the authority said 384 pedestrians,77 drivers, 225 passengers, 16 pedal cyclists, 242 motorcyclists, and 82 pillion passengers died between the same period this year.
