At least 20 motorists and riders were on Tuesday, November 10, arrested during a multi-agency traffic enforcement operation along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway over various traffic violations.
The National Police Service (NPS) said the crackdown targeted motorists found engaging in drunk driving, operating defective vehicles, and driving without valid insurance and licences.
The crackdown comes amid a significant rise in road crashes along the busy route, where at least 45 people have reportedly died over the past one month.
Just four days ago, four people died on the spot after two trucks travelling in opposite directions collided head-on and burst into flames at Kiunduani in Makindu.
In a separate incident on October 25, at least 22 people died, and several others were injured following a head-on collision between a bus and a lorry along the Kanga area, past Mtito Andei.
The latest traffic enforcement also follows a directive by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who ordered officers to intensify crackdown and impound unroadworthy vehicles ahead of the festive season.
Kanja issued the directive on Saturday, November 7, warning that increased road traffic and commercial activities during the final weeks of the year could expose motorists and other road users to greater safety risks.
“As we move into the final weeks of the year, we anticipate increased road traffic and heightened commercial activities. We expect you to curtail drunkenness, dangerous driving, speeding and unroadworthy motor vehicles and motorcycles,” Kanja said.
The police chief further instructed police officers to ensure that motorists, pedestrians and other road users observe safety precautions while using the country's roads.
“Motorists, pedestrians and all road users must take due care while using our roads. I urge the officers to remain alert, adequately prepared and responsive to emerging security concerns,” he added.
Following the directive, police officers intensified road safety awareness and enforcement operations across Kitui, Makueni and Mombasa counties in collaboration with other road safety stakeholders.
The police urged motorists and motorcycle riders to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy and that they possessed valid insurance and the necessary licences before using public roads.
The police service further called on members of the public to report traffic violations and other road safety concerns to the nearest police post or station.
"The National Police Service urges all road users to observe traffic regulations, exercise caution and prioritise safety," the police service said.
“We encourage members of the public to report any traffic violations or road safety concerns to the nearest police post or station, or to reach out via our emergency toll-free numbers: 999 or 911,” it added.
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