Police and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) conducted a day-long crackdown along the Narok-Bomet highway to confiscate vehicles that were not roadworthy..
The Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) on road traffic enforcement operation is targeting all forms of non-compliance to the Traffic Act and relevant regulations and will run until the end of March.
The police, led by Narok North Sub-county Police Commander Frederick Shiundu, seized four matatu cars for speeding and lack of speed governors Two other vehicles were seized for overloading , while another two are being held for over speeding.
“We realized that some drivers have tampered with speed governors and are driving at a very high speed which is dangerous to the passenger. One of the cars completely removed the speed governor,” he said.
The Police Boss said the exercise aims at reducing road accidents along the busy smooth highway, where an increased number of accidents has been recorded.
“When an accident occurs, it is difficult to reverse the incident. This is why we should all be vigilant to avert accidents by following the laid down traffic rules,” he said.
Shiundu called on all passengers using the matatu to raise an alarm whenever they board vehicles that were being driven at a very high speed or in a careless manner.
“You can either raise an alert through social media or call the police, so that we can act immediately. You do not have to suffer in silence and suffer damages that could have been prevented earlier,” he said.
He reiterated that all Kenyans have the right to travel with good cars and be driven safely to their destination.
Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna stated that the operation is necessary in order to address challenges leading to the increased road crashes
He said the enforcement operation will include “un-prescribed number plates installation of throb lights and installation of flashing lights, vehicles with foreign plates without motor vehicle foreign permits, illegal PSVs – (Usiku Sacco, Voxy, Sientas, Probox, etc.), speeding miraa ferrying vehicles in Meru and Embu, and unlicensed tuktuks in Nairobi, Mombasa and their environs.”
Traffic violations being targeted include operating without a valid Road Service Licence (RSL), without a PSV badge, operating without a uniform, operating without a driver’s license and operating without a reflective jacket.
Others are operating without a helmet, operating uninsured motor vehicles, excess pillion passengers, worn out tires, contravening insurance defective motor vehicles and exceeding the speed limit.
Also to be targeted are those operating without an inspection sticker and without a speed governor, as well as obstruction, reckless driving and lane indiscipline.
