The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in collaboration with the National Police Service and other government agencies, has intensified road safety enforcement across the country during the continuing festive season to ensure safe travels for Kenyans.
Speaking during a joint road safety operation in Homa Bay, NTSA Road Safety Director Andrew Kiplagat said the nationwide exercise is aimed at promoting compliance with traffic regulations and reducing road accidents during the busy holiday period.
“Our main objective is to ensure safe passage for Kenyans on our roads as they travel to various destinations during this festive season,” Kiplagat said.
“We are emphasizing safe movement and strict enforcement against traffic violations to ensure all motorists and their vehicles comply with the law. Compliance is the only assurance we have for safety,” he stated.
Kiplagat noted that the operation, which involves NTSA officers, board members and police drawn from both regional units and headquarters, has so far recorded positive results.
“We are seeing good progress. Most Kenyans are moving safely and we have not experienced major incidents, largely because of this collaborative effort between different agencies,” he added.
According to NTSA, speeding has emerged as the most common violation, with several vehicles found operating beyond the legal speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour.
In the operation, some vehicles were found with defective speed governors and were detained for failing to meet safety requirements. Other violations include overloading, lack of valid driving licenses, and failure by drivers to meet mandatory requirements such as having badges.
Kiplagat said officers are prioritizing corrective measures where possible to allow passengers to continue their journeys safely.
“We take cognizance of the need to help people reach their destinations. Where issues can be resolved on the spot, we facilitate that. Only serious offenses are escalated,” he said.
On her part NTSA board member Lilian Mogendi, who was part of the oversight team on the ground, said the authority had deployed senior officials to monitor enforcement activities, adding road safety remains a core mandate of the agency.
“We value life, and road safety is at the heart of NTSA’s work. During the festive season, risks on the roads increase. Our focus is largely on corrective measures. Where infractions are not serious, we advise drivers on what needs to be done to ensure passengers reach their destinations safely,” she informed.
Mogendi appealed to motorists and vehicle owners to cooperate with enforcement officers, warning against attempts to evade roadblocks.
“Some drivers are taking shortcuts through bushes to avoid inspection, but you can evade a roadblock but not an accident. We are here as friends of drivers and vehicle owners, and as people who value life,” Mogendi said.
National Police Service representative John Enyaman said police are supporting the operation to restore order and sanity on the roads.
“Our task is simply to correct those who violate traffic rules. We are not here to punish, but to rectify and ensure safety,” Enyaman said.
NTSA South Nyanza Regional Manager Aden Adow said road safety is a shared responsibility and called on all Kenyans, including the media to help spread the message.
“As regulators and law enforcers, we will do our part through arrests, reminders and sensitization. But safety also depends on individual responsibility,” Adow said.
He urged families travelling during the festive season to take extra caution, including using different vehicles where possible to reduce risk.
“Accidents have no immunity, but if we heed the advice and lessons we are given, we can save lives,” he said, adding, “Let us all be responsible road users so that we meet again in the New Year safe and healthy.”
The nationwide road safety campaign began last Friday and will continue throughout the festive period.
By Sitna Omar
