The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in partnership with the National Police Service Traffic Department (NPST) has launched a renewed road safety crackdown in Nakuru County targeting unroadworthy vehicles and reckless driving in an effort to reduce accidents along the busy highway corridors.
The intensified exercise will focus on Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), and other motorists operating in violation of traffic regulations. According to NTSA, the operation combines strict enforcement of road safety laws with public awareness campaigns to promote responsible behaviour among road users.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign at Nakuru Main Bus Terminus, NTSA Nakuru Regional Manager, Mr. John Parteroi, said the exercise would focus on overloading, verification of crew licenses, and roadworthiness of vehicles. Authorities will also crack down on speeding, dangerous overtaking, drunk-driving, driver fatigue, careless pedestrian behavior, and illegal operations by private vehicles disguised as PSVs.
To complement enforcement, NTSA and the traffic police have rolled out safety education targeting drivers, passengers, students, and the public. The campaign is being undertaken in major bus termini and truck parking bays across the devolved unit, particularly along the Nairobi–Nakuru–Eldoret–Kisumu Highway.
Parteroi said the campaign is a coordinated effort by state agencies and stakeholders in the transport sector to address rising cases of road carnage. “This initiative is a twin effort to clamp down on culprits flouting traffic laws while also promoting awareness among all road users. The goal is to make our roads safer,” he explained.
The NTSA has established a checkpoint for HGVs at Mau-Summit Junction on the Nakuru–Eldoret road. According to data from NTSA and the traffic department, most of the fatal accidents along the stretch involve heavy trucks.
Parteroi noted that drivers on this route often engage in speeding, reckless overtaking, or “free-wheeling”, a dangerous practice where drivers disengage the gear to save fuel while descending steep slopes. He warned that such reckless behavior endangers lives and would not be tolerated.
He further cautioned that Kenyan truck drivers risk losing their licenses if found guilty of repeated offenses, while foreign drivers flouting local traffic laws will be banned from operating on Kenyan roads.
Citing the National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Commercial Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2024, Parteroi emphasized that long-distance truck operators must keep their vehicles in sound mechanical condition and maintain records for at least two years. He added that truck and PSV drivers are prohibited from driving for more than eight hours without rest, and companies must provide additional drivers if vehicles are to operate beyond the stipulated period.
The NTSA official urged passengers to play a proactive role in safeguarding their own safety. “Passengers should not remain silent when drivers engage in reckless behavior. They must speak up or report offenders to the police at the next roadblock,” said Parteroi.
He noted that passivity among passengers often emboldens rogue drivers. “If passengers fail to act, they become contributors to accidents,” he added.
Parteroi also linked accidents to fatigue, blaming some bus and cargo companies for forcing their drivers to operate long hours without adequate rest. He noted that while law enforcers are often criticized when accidents occur, commuters and pedestrians also contribute to accidents through negligence.
In Nakuru, for example, pedestrians are frequently seen crossing the busy Nakuru–Naivasha Highway dangerously under pedestrian footbridges.
As part of the crackdown, NTSA is targeting private vehicles that operate illegally as PSVs. Parteroi warned operators that they risk arrest and prosecution. He also cautioned members of the public against boarding unlicensed vehicles, stressing that they too risk arrest and charges.
At the same time, traffic officers manning roadblocks have been directed to arrest excess passengers while allowing the rest to continue with their journeys. “The responsibility lies with the passengers. They can never blame the matatu conductor for being the excess passenger,” said Parteroi.
The NTSA is also reining in undisciplined matatu crews involved in violent acts, harassment of commuters, sexual abuse, and use of offensive language.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Transport and Infrastructure, Engineer Michael Kamau, revealed that the Nakuru County Government has held consultations with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on the upcoming upgrade of the Rironi–Mau Summit and Rironi–Mai Mahiu–Naivasha roads.
Kamau said proposals include construction of truck parking bays along the routes, relocation of the Gilgil weighbridge away from the main highway, and redesign of Ngata Bridge to include either an underpass or overpass for pedestrian safety. He also emphasized the need for a fair tolling system once the roads are upgraded.
“These measures are designed to minimize disruption during the expansion of one of the busiest trade routes in the region while also enhancing community safety,” he said.
Kamau warned that matatu crews picking or dropping passengers at unauthorized locations, and HGV drivers parking in undesignated areas, would face criminal prosecution.
Paul Ndung’u, a driver with Eldoret Cross Road Sacco, lamented that many PSVs either lack speed governors or operate with tampered devices. He urged operators to comply with safety standards, stressing that avoiding enforcement officers is more costly and dangerous.
Timboroa Line Sacco Manager, Mr. Stephen Muraya, suggested reinstating a previous ban on heavy trucks operating between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. He argued that most accidents occur at night and involve trucks. He also urged caution during the rainy season, which often creates slippery surfaces.
“I urge motorists to reduce their speed during rains since slippery roads make stopping difficult, raising the risk of losing control,” Muraya said.
Molo Shuttle driver, Mr. Simon Mwai, also expressed concern about trucks obstructing roads at night. He called on authorities to designate proper overnight parking bays along highways. Mwai further suggested that school bus drivers undergo periodic mental and physical tests to ensure they are fit to transport children.
Throughout the campaign, emphasis has been placed on involving the public in shaping safer roads. NTSA believes that through education, enforcement, and cooperation among stakeholders, accidents can be reduced significantly.
“While NTSA and the traffic police enforce the law, passengers, motorists, and pedestrians must also embrace a culture of responsibility. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring that our roads are safe,” Parteroi said.
The campaign underscores the government’s commitment to curbing road accidents through a blend of enforcement and public awareness, with Nakuru serving as a key focal point due to its strategic location along Kenya’s busiest transport corridor.
By Anne Mwale and Dennis Rasto
