National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Monday launched a crackdown on drivers flaunting road safety rules.
The latest crackdown which comes in the wake of several road accidents was launched by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen in efforts meant to intensify enforcement of road safety rules.
Speaking after issuing the directives, CS Murkomen reiterated his ministry's commitment to restoring sanity on Kenyan roads by ensuring careless drivers face the law.
"We must as a country prioritise road safety. As children begin to return to school today after their midterm break, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service (NPS) are embarking on a nationwide traffic enforcement and Usalama Barabarani campaign to educate and empower citizens.
"These efforts follow a directive issued to the NTSA to collaborate with the NPS to intensify enforcement and bring careless drivers to justice. It is essential to acknowledge that the majority of road traffic incidents are preventable by following safety regulations and that 90 per cent of accidents result from unsafe road user behaviour," CS Murkomen said.
During the crackdown, NTSA officials impounded at least 25 vehicles that had faults including non-functional speed governors and expired inspection certificates.
"We have nabbed very many vehicles around this route that are not road worthy, they don't have correct speed governors, that is a message to all of us who are using the roads especially PSVs and commercial vehicles that are required to have functional speed governors to ensure that speed governors are fitted into their vehicles," Machakos NTSA manager Roselyne Oloo said.
Traffic police led by Eastern regional traffic enforcement officer, Lawrence Koilem, urged drivers to comply with the standards set for vehicles and adhere to road safety rules.
Koilem warned that those caught going against the regulations set would face the full wrath of the law.
"Serikali imeamua kwamba usalama wa wakenya umehakikishwa, na hatutatoka mahali hapa kwa sababu tunataka kuhakikisha kua kila mmoja anasafiri salama. Dereva yoyote ambaye anajua anatumia na anajua gari yake ni mbovu tunakuonya ya kwamba chuma chako kiko motoni," Koile stated.
