Hundreds of passengers arrested by NTSA along Thika Road – Nairobi News

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) officials on Sunday, March 31, arrested more than 400 road users in a crackdown on Thika Road.

NTSA officers alongside those from National Police Service counterparts have in the past week been running a nationwide crackdown aimed at restoring sanity on Kenyan roads.

Those arrested on Sunday were mostly excess passengers caught in the PSV vehicles others included vehicles without proper documents including inspection and road service license (RSL) were also impounded with number plates removed.

“This is a routine exercise that is taking place across the country. We want to ensure every Kenyan is safe on the road,” NTSA’s principal communication officer Anthony Nyongesa said when reached for comment.

Those arrested will have to spend Easter weekend in police cells before their arraignment on Tuesday.

“Thika, Kiambu County: Excess passengers off-loaded and detained. To avoid any inconveniences, do not board an overloaded vehicle,” NTSA said.

Since last week, the Authority has come out strongly to sensitize the public besides supporting the police to enforce traffic regulations across the country.

Sunday morning crackdown came hours after more than 20 drivers were arrested over 20 drunk drivers on Saturday night along Kiambu Road.

Most drivers were caught unawares after the NTSA and the police laid an ambush along the busy road in an operation aimed at reducing road carnage during the Easter holiday.

Those arrested will be arraigned on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Speaking on Kiambu Road on Saturday night, NTSA’s head of road safety strategies Dr Duncan Kibogong noted that drunk driving is a major risk on the roads.

“We will do whatever it takes to bring sanity on roads,” Dr Kibogong told the media.

Two weeks ago, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen while appearing before the senate revealed that measures have been put in place to save Kenyans on the road.

“Some of these measures are ensuring that NTSA collaborates with NPS in road safety matters,” he said.

On Wednesday, March 27, an enforcement team at Lukenya, Machakos County on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway netted more than 1000 errant vehicles.

The vehicles included both private and public service which were ferrying passengers to various destinations during the operations catching most motorists unawares.