Tens of vehicles and motorbikes were today impounded in Embu Town as police mounted a crackdown on motorists flouting traffic rules.
The onslaught targeting Public Service Vehicles (PSV), heavy commercial vehicles and boda boda operators according to Eastern Region Traffic Commander Jane Kuria was informed by the need to enforce compliance of road traffic rules in the wake of rising road fatalities.
She said the region had recorded 789 fatalities from 2019 to date and thus there was a need to tame the rising road carnage by ensuring all road users strictly adhere to laid down rules.
The regional boss said the majority of the vehicles impounded had defective speed governors while boda boda offences ranged from lack of insurance and driving licenses as well as lack of protective gear for both the drivers and the pillion passengers.
Ms Kuria said the crackdown will continue until sanity is restored on the roads, especially now that matatu operators were trying to take advantage of the lifting of night curfew to make more business.
“ We do not want to create a situation where we will have to put some people out of business and our humble appeal to motorists is to ensure their vehicles are in good order,” said the officer.
She continued that those arrested today will be arraigned in court tomorrow with National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) insisting that their vehicles will be released subject to compliance inspection.
NTSA Eastern Regional Manager Doris Abaya said once they are done with the courts, the offenders will have to ensure their vehicles have complied with all regulations before they can be released.
She at the same time called on speed governor vendors to ensure they are releasing to the market standardised gadgets that meet the required specifications, performance and installation requirements.
By Samuel Waititu
