Over 1000 vehicles nabbed in surprise Lukenya crackdown by NTSA – Nairobi News

An enforcement team at Lukenya, Machakos County on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway apprehended more than 1000 errant vehicles.

The vehicles included both private and public service vehicles that were transporting passengers to various destinations during Wednesday’s operations, catching most motorists unawares.

The operation was led by the Kenya Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General George Njau and other senior NTSA officials alongside their counterparts from the National Police Service.

The vehicles were impounded and their number plates were removed for violating various traffic regulations.

Athi River OCPD Jos Mudavadi said the operation, which started around 10 am, was a normal thorough operation aimed at enforcing traffic laws, rules and regulations.

“Today alone, we have managed to impound more than 1000 vehicles, both private and commercial, as well as unroadworthy vehicles and those that don’t have the required documents as per the law,” said Mr Mudavadi.

The crackdown also targeted motorists who flout traffic rules and regulations.

“All motorists must be in possession of the required documents such as driving licences to be on the road,” he said.

On his part, DG Njau said most accidents are caused by unsafe behaviour of road users such as overloading, unsafe crossing, speeding and drunk driving.

“Road safety starts with each and every one of us. Travellers should play their part by always wearing seatbelts and reporting PSV drivers who appear to be driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Mr Njau.

“We have been carrying out such crackdowns since February. This is one of the strategies to ensure safety on our roads for the benefit of all road users and we will continue to do so until the madness is brought under control.”

He added that it was not just in Nairobi or Machakos that NTSA officers had conducted compliance checks on major highways.

“Similar checks were carried out along the Garissa-Nairobi highway, Embu-Nairobi road, Kisii and other major highways in the country,” he said.

One of the vehicles impounded was a Kenya School of Government bus carrying government officials to Konza town. It was found not to have been inspected.

Like the rest of the vehicles, its number plates were removed by NTSA officials and the driver was immediately fined Sh10,000 by traffic police before being charged.