As the country grapples with a surge in road accidents during the December holiday season, leaving hundreds dead and many others injured, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in collaboration with traffic police, mounted a mobile vehicle inspection operation at Maungu Police Station to rein in rogue drivers and unroadworthy vehicles.
The impromptu inspection comes amid growing concern following a series of fatal road accidents reported along the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway, particularly between Makindu and Mtito Andei, where several lives have been lost in recent weeks.
During the operation, dozens of public service vehicles (PSVs) were flagged for various traffic offences, including overloading, expired inspection certificates, and over speeding.
NTSA officers removed number plates from vehicles found to be in violation of traffic regulations, leaving hundreds of passengers temporarily stranded.
Passengers caught unaware expressed frustration, blaming vehicle owners and transport companies for failing to comply with safety requirements, arguing that enforcement actions often end up punishing commuters rather than the offenders.
“PSV operators should follow the law because it is passengers who suffer delays and inconveniences when vehicles are impounded along the way,” lamented one affected traveler.
The incident has renewed calls for NTSA and traffic police to conduct routine inspections at bus termini and major transit points nationwide, especially during festive seasons, instead of relying on last-minute roadside crackdowns.
Road safety advocates argue that consistent enforcement would help eliminate unroadworthy vehicles and reckless driving, ultimately reducing accidents on Kenyan highways. Vehicles whose owners paid the requisite fines and met compliance requirements were later cleared to continue with their journeys.
