1, 700 vehicles impounded in ongoing crackdown – Oguna

At least 1, 700 motor vehicles have been impounded in the ongoing national Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) crackdowns, Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna has said.

Oguna said the vehicles were impounded across the country.

Their drivers and owners were arraigned in the last three days since the government launched the operations in various roads on Monday.

“1, 700 vehicles have been impounded within the last three days since we launched RRI nationally. If we can get such a number of vehicles within three days, what about in a month?” Oguna queried.

He said the operations were ongoing for a month, 30 days.

The government spokesman addressed the press when he joined a team of multi-agency in the ongoing crackdowns along Nairobi – Mombasa highway at the Small World roadblock in Athi River, Machakos County on Friday.

The operations are being conducted by officers from National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), National Police Service alongside local provincial administrations and other actors.

Several passengers were stranded for hours before finding alternative means of transport after the PSV vehicles they were travelling were impounded during the crackdown. 

Tens of vehicles had their registration number plates removed for lacking KRA stickers on them.

The vehicles were towed to Athi River police station.

He was accompanied by Athi River deputy county commissioner Charles Wambugu, area sub-county police commander Anderson Njagi and NTSA deputy director vehicles inspections Joel Opere among other officials from NPS, NTSA, and national government, among others.

Oguna said the operations were intended to ensure sanity on Kenyan roads with the intention of reducing cases of fatality rate resulting from road accidents.

“We are here because we are conducting an operation that can protect Kenyan lives. Road accidents keep increasing daily. Those who can help in the country’s economy are perishing in road accidents,” he said.

He said Kenyan’s economy was affected since the workforce in education, industrialization, agriculture, and health sectors were dying from road accidents.

Oguna said there were also worrying injuries resulting from road carnages thereby rendering a big populace vulnerable and dependable.

“The country is losing a lot and as a government, we can’t allow that to continue,” Oguna said.

Oguna said 9, 000 people had perished from road accidents within the last two years.

“In the year 2020, we lost 3, 975 people while the figure increased to 4, 579 in 2021 totalling to 9, 000 deaths,” Oguna said.

He said 30, 000 injuries were recorded in the last two years making the total number of injuries and fatalities to 40, 000 or thereabout.

“40, 000 is a whole town in some developed countries. These people had people who depended on them since as Africans we have lots of dependents,” Oguna added.

The government spokesman said over 300, 000 Kenyans have suffered after losing their breadwinners either after they died or amputated due to road accident-related injuries across the country.

“Between January 2021 and February 25, 202, we lost 612 people to road accidents. From January 2022 to – the date we have lost 706 already. It means that the figure might rise 5, 000 deaths by end of the year, we must take action to reduce deaths resulting from carnages,” Oguna said.

He said Kenyans must be disciplined and follow traffic rules and regulations stating that most of the accidents were caused by blatant disobedience of traffic regulations.

“If you are found flouting traffic laws, your vehicle will be impounded, you will be taken to court and fined,” Oguna said.

Oguna said 75 – 90 per cent of the accidents were caused by human error hence called for discipline among motorists alongside other road users.

“Our roads are common user facilities, we must have discipline and respect ourselves on the road without risking other users’ lives. It’s sad to see some pedestrians crossroads while using their phones while others have earphones on their ears leading to fatal accidents,” Oguna said.

Wambugu said they were sensitizing road users on the importance of using roads safely.

“Kenyans are fond of flouting traffic rules. There has been ongoing road construction along the Mombasa highway from Kyumbi junction to the Airport area in Nairobi. Motorists, bodaboda riders and pedestrians should respect other road users so that they all return home safely,” Wambugu said.

Njagi said 235 motor vehicles had been impounded in Athi River Sub County in the last three days.

He said most of the vehicles were road unworthy.

“Kenyans should be told the importance of social responsibility to ensure they use roadworthy vehicles. Be responsible on the road so that we don’t have deaths,” Njagi said.

Opera said RRI was considering three things; the engineering aspect that ensured vehicles were roadworthy, public education and enforcement.

“Commercial and public service vehicles should have speed governors among other right safety features like chevrons, reflectors, tires, etc. Kura, Kerra, and KeNHa to ensure that roads that aren’t in good condition are repaired and signage, bumps, footbridges, erected,” he said.

On public education, Opere said people must have a mental change to ensure that they obey traffic rules through public sensitization.

He said for enforcement, a multi-agency team was committed to ensuring that road users obey traffic rules and regulations by drivers having valid driving licenses, they and their conductors having uniforms and PSV badges, vehicles get inspected for roadworthiness, road service licenses, insurance, proper tires, equipment, brake lights and parts.