Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has issued a plea for motorists to exercise caution during the festive season in order to mitigate the increasing number of accidents.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the IG expressed concern about the growing instances of road crashes, attributing them to the carelessness of all road users and the El Nino rains affecting various parts of the country.
Koome urged strict adherence to traffic rules by motorists, pedestrians, and passengers during the holiday season when a significant number of people are expected to travel across the country.
He noted the anticipation of heightened vehicular traffic due to increased movement of Kenyans and the additional challenge posed by the heavy El-Nino rains, leading to poor visibility on the roads.
“We have entered into the festive season, and from experience, we expect high vehicular traffic on our roads due to increased movements of Kenyans across the country. The vehicular situation this year is further compounded by the ongoing heavy El-Nino rains being experienced in many parts of the country, which, in turn, is causing poor visibility on the roads,” he stated.
The IG highlighted non-compliance with traffic regulations, including operating defective vehicles, failure to use safety belts, speeding, driver fatigue, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and dangerous overtaking, as contributing factors to road accidents.
Koome appealed to pedestrians, cyclists, boda boda riders, passengers, and drivers to adhere to traffic rules to ensure a safe festive season for everyone.
He emphasized the collaboration between the National Police Service (NPS) and other stakeholders, such as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), to uphold the rule of law and tackle corruption on the roads.
Furthermore, Koome ordered an immediate resumption of duties for all police officers currently on leave to enhance police visibility and security across the country. He underscored the NPS’s commitment to joint efforts with other government agencies to maintain safety and order on the roads, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for corruption within the police force.
Citing recent accidents in Machakos and Nakuru Counties resulting in 16 fatalities, Koome highlighted the significant negative impact of road traffic accidents on individuals and communities, emphasizing the collective responsibility of Kenyans to promote road safety.
