Kanja: Special unit deployed to curb holiday road chaos
National Transport and Safety Authority officials and police officers during a crackdown on traffic laws violators at Salgaa on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway on December 4, 2025.
A special multi-agency unit has been deployed to crack down on rogue motorists during the festive season.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja yesterday said the move aims to curb a spike in road accidents, adding that the unit, which became operational this week, would target reckless driving and corruption on the roads to enhance public safety during a period marked by heavy travel.
The formation of the team was announced on Monday by the chairperson of the National Commission on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), Chief Justice Martha Koome, who said mobile courts would also be set up along major highways to deal swiftly with traffic offenders.
Under the arrangement, motorists found flouting traffic rules will be arraigned before the mobile courts and fined on the spot, a measure authorities say is intended to deter violations.
The special unit brings together officers drawn from the National Police Service, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Judiciary. Mr Kanja warned motorists that traffic violations would not be tolerated, noting that the surge in road accidents during the festive season was a growing concern.
“During the festive season there is a lot of movement, and we want to assure Kenyans that they will be safe on the roads,” he said. “Motorists should avoid drink-driving and other offences. A life lost is one too many, and we will be vigilant to ensure that all road users are safe.”
He added that the use of instant fines through the mobile courts would serve as a deterrent to habitual offenders. The Inspector-General was speaking during the official opening of training for new police recruits at the National Police Training College, Kiganjo.
He announced that police officers currently on leave had been recalled to bolster security surveillance across the country during the holiday period. Addressing the 10,000 recruits who began their training on Tuesday, Mr Kanja cautioned them to uphold discipline throughout the course.
“You have been given an opportunity to train as police officers, and we expect you to complete the course successfully. This training is not a walk in the park and must be taken seriously,” he said. “We will not hesitate to dismiss anyone who is indisciplined.”
The police chief noted that the recruits were joining the service at a critical time and would be deployed to various parts of the country after completing their training in August next year, ahead of security operations for the 2027 General Election.
National Police Training College commandant Nyale Munga said the training curriculum had been updated to address emerging security challenges, including the influence of social media and artificial intelligence, alongside enhanced community policing modules.
Senior officers present included Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat, Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations John Onyango and police spokesperson Muchui Ngaga.
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