Kenyan Authorities Roll Out 24/7 Patrols, Mobile Courts to Curb Festive Season Road Carnage

 By Brian 

Kenya’s transport authorities have launched an aggressive month-long safety crackdown as December’s holiday travel rush begins, pledging round-the-clock patrols, mobile courts and free inspections of speed governors in an effort to stem the country’s annual spike in road fatalities.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and National Police Service warned Monday that reckless driving, driver fatigue and unroadworthy vehicles remain the leading causes of the deadly crashes that traditionally accompany the festive exodus.

Last December, more than 400 people lost their lives on Kenyan roads, many along the heavily trafficked Nairobi–Mombasa, Nairobi–Kisumu and Nairobi–Eldoret highways, now filling with packed buses and matatus as families head home for Christmas.

Traffic commandant Fredrick Ochieng said police officers will be deployed “24 hours a day,” focusing especially on night-time operations when most fatal accidents occur. Patrol teams will be armed with speed guns and breathalysers, while mobile courts stationed at notorious black spots will issue instant fines, a move authorities say will help eliminate roadside bribery and enforce compliance on the spot.

NTSA road safety director Andrew Kiplagat stressed that accident prevention requires collective responsibility. “Vehicle owners must present roadworthy buses, drivers must be rested and sober, and passengers must speak up when they see danger,” he said during a stakeholder briefing in Nairobi.

In a significant boost to enforcement, suppliers of speed limiters have agreed to test and repair the devices on public service vehicles at no cost throughout December. Federation of Public Transport chief executive Kushian Muchiri also announced a new digital platform designed to identify repeat offenders across the sector, promising tougher action against habitual speeders and drunk drivers.

Matatu Owners Association deputy president Salim Mbarak urged operators not to compromise safety for profits, warning against deploying town-service minibuses on long-distance routes or skipping routine maintenance. “Worn brakes, bald tyres and exhausted drivers kill,” he said.

As millions prepare to travel for the holidays, police and regulators insist the country’s most extensive festive-season safety operation is now in place. But they caution that the ultimate safeguard lies with motorists themselves: choosing patience over haste and vigilance over complacency.