Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that all police officers are now under strict instructions to enforce the law without considering their police departments.
Murkomen took to social media to share this directive, stating, “Following the directives issued by His Excellency the President, ALL Police officers are under instructions to enforce the LAW without considering their police departments. Such errant DRIVERS, RIDERS & PASSENGERS will be in aloooooot of trouble. The numbers MUST FALL.”
The announcement comes on the heels of the launch of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 by President William Samoei Ruto yesterday. The plan aims to reduce the high toll of road accidents on families, communities, and the Kenyan economy, estimated at KES 450 billion annually.
President Ruto emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting, “We have witnessed a higher frequency of road crashes… The factors driving this concerning rise… involve a combination of low road capacity, poor maintenance of both roads and vehicles, low enforcement of traffic rules, and reckless behaviour by motorists, passengers and pedestrians.”
The newly launched action plan encompasses a holistic approach to road safety, incorporating road design, safety measures, public awareness campaigns, and the regulation of various road users, including school buses and boda bodas (motorcycle taxis).
Key components of the plan include: Improvement of road infrastructure and safety measures, retraining and retesting of school bus drivers, regulation and efficient management of the boda boda sector and implementation of technology-driven solutions such as speed cameras and surveillance at high-risk junctions
President Ruto also stressed the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in achieving road safety goals, calling for concerted efforts from government ministries, departments, agencies, civil society organizations, and the media.
He further highlighted the role of justice, law, and order agencies in ensuring robust law enforcement, stating, “The National Police Service shall ensure that there are no exemptions from compliance, regardless of whether you operate a bodaboda, heavy commercial vehicles, school transport or any other vehicle on our roads.”
