Police, NTSA summon owners of recklessly driven matatus
NTSA Director-General George Njao. The National Police Service (NPS) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have summoned the owners of two matatus caught driving dangerously.
What you need to know:
- In the undated video clip, the two matatus can be seen openly flouting all traffic rules and regulations.
- According to Central Region Traffic boss, Elizabeth Vivi, the owners and operators of the two vehicles have been given until the end of the day to report and surrender the vehicles to Makuyu Police Station.
The National Police Service (NPS) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have summoned the owners of two matatus caught driving dangerously in a video clip that has since gone viral.
The two matatus were seen swerving dangerously on the Nyeri-Nairobi highway at Makuyu, endangering both motorists and pedestrians.
According to NTSA Director-General George Njao, some young passengers could be seen hanging dangerously from the windows of the two vehicles, which he described as "unacceptable behaviour".
"It is irresponsible and reckless. In a split second, a catastrophic incident could occur as a result of such behaviour. The driver risked his life, and the lives of his passengers and other road users," he said.
In the undated video clip, the two matatus, Reg. No. KBH 889H and KCF 996R, can be seen openly flouting all traffic rules and regulations.
According to Central Region Traffic boss, Elizabeth Vivi, the owners and operators of the two vehicles have been given until the end of the day to report and surrender the vehicles to Makuyu Police Station.
“We have summoned the owners. Failure to appear before the police to write a statement will lead to drastic action by NPS and NTSA," she said.
She revealed that the operators would be taken to court after investigations.
The footage was taken by the driver of a car following the matatus.
Section 47 of the Traffic Act states that it is an offence to drive recklessly or in a manner that endangers other motorists and pedestrians.
A person caught driving recklessly for the first time can be fined up to Sh100,000 or imprisoned for up to two years. For a second or subsequent offence, the fine increases to a maximum of Sh300,000 or imprisonment for up to one year.
The court can also suspend the driver's licence for up to two years.
This festive season, the NTSA and police have stepped up surveillance on various roads across the country.
Over the weekend, several motorists were arrested for violating traffic regulations and will be charged in court this week.
At the same time, the NTSA says there has been a sharp increase in the number of road deaths.
According to their latest report, more than 4,282 people have died in road crashes up to November 2024, a significant increase compared to the same period last year.
Pedestrians and motorcyclists continue to be the most vulnerable, with over 1,600 pedestrians and 900 motorcyclists losing their lives.
“We lost over 4,282 lives by the end of November. This is a higher figure compared to last year. Pedestrians account for over 1,600 of these deaths, and motorcyclists over 900. These are the two most affected groups, which is why we are including everyone in these sensitisation efforts,” the NTSA said.
