President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered
NTSA to keep off roads and let police officers manage traffic.
The president noted on Tuesday that many accidents have been taking place.
At least 330 people died in several parts of the country in crashes in December 2017 alone. Some of the most grisly accidents took place at the Salgaa black spot.
Officials of the National Transport and Safety Authority have been camping on roads to monitor driving and use police officers seconded to them to arrest offenders.
In 2016, the National Police Service seconded some 200 police officer to NTSA to help with enforcing traffic laws.
But Uhuru said: "Leave the duty to traffic police."
He continued:
“I agree that road accidents have been on the rise. The government will work to ensure we minimise the accidents.
"We have decided that all NTSA officers withdraw from the roads and leave traffic work to police. We want to see if we can restore order on the roads."
The president noted every Kenyan has the
responsibility of cautioning reckless drivers and that the public must complement the government's efforts.
"As a passenger, you have a responsibility to ensure the driver [adheres to] rules. Passengers should not be the ones urging drivers to speed,"
he said.
"It's better to arrive late and safely rather than die or be injured in a speeding vehicle."
Related:
Also read:
Uhuru spoke
at Maili Tatu stadium, Igembe Central, during the burial of three bishops who died in a road accident on December 29.
The requiem mass for Bishops Philip Kubai, Stanley Karuru and Moses Ntoeruri took place at the stadium.
They were buried
in the church compounds of their dioceses.
Earlier today, a section of Nairobi residents marched to Transport house to demand the removal of NTSA officials.
The locals carried rats to the protest dubbed 'Operation Ondoa Panya'.
One of the protesters shouted: "This authority is eating us instead of saving our lives. We want out."
Some Members of Parliament want the authority disbanded for failing to curb road accidents.
ODM's John Mbadi of Suba South is one of those who said the night travel ban was meaningless.