The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued an update on an incident captured in a video showing two Public Service Vehicle (PSV) matatus being driven recklessly along the busy Nairobi-Nyeri highway.
This after NTSA vowed to take action after the video surfaced online. The safety authority in an update on December 27, 2024, said that the owner, driver and conductor of one of the vehicles with registration number KBH have all been charged after they surrendered to Police.
“Fines 1. Driver: Ksh120,000 and the DL has been suspended for a period of 1 year 2. Owner: Ksh20,000 3. Conductor: Ksh. 12,000,” NTSA said in an update.
Further, the authority said that the driver of the other PSV captured in the video is still at large.
The disturbing video showed the matatus being driven in the middle of the road as they kept on swerving in turns, with passengers cheering on while blowing whistles.
In the video which sparked uproar among motorists and Kenyans in general, some passengers were also seen hanging on the vehicles’ windows from both sides.
The video was recorded and shared by concerned motorists who in turn shared it with NTSA.
In a statement on Monday, December 23 the road safety authority condemned the act and termed it unacceptable, adding that the owners of the vehicles captured in the video have been summoned.
“This is unacceptable. The owners of the PSVs have been summoned. We will take action,” said NTSA.
The National Police Service (NPS) spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango on her part said that Police have taken appropriate action on the matatu’s crew following the launch of a probe into the captured incident.
The NPS spokesperson said that the owners of the vehicles have been traced and summoned to avail the vehicles and drivers at the Makuyu traffic base on Monday for questioning.
“We have now traced both owners and summoned them to report to RTEO Central,” she said.
Traffic offences
Rule number 80 of the Traffic Act states that anyone found travelling with part of the body outside a moving vehicle is liable for a fine of Ksh1,000.
Also Read: NTSA Issues Two-Week Ultimatum Over Unregistered Vehicles
Section 53(1) and 67 states that a motor vehicle that obstructs by allowing a vehicle to remain in any position on the road to obstruct or cause inconvenience to other motorists using the road is fined Ksh10,000.
Section 47 of the Traffic Act on the other hand 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 Ksh100,000 or imprisoned for up to two years.
For a second or subsequent offence, the fine increases to a maximum of Ksh300,000 or imprisonment for up to one year. The court can also suspend the driver’s license for up to two years.
Crackdown
NTSA and traffic officers have been actively conducting a crackdown on vehicles and motorists violating traffic laws and regulations on various roads in the country especially during the festive season following an increased number of road accidents across the country.
The safety authority has been constantly sharing updates of road safety education and compliance checks along various highways in different counties.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi had directed a nationwide crackdown on unlicensed and unroadworthy matatus in response to a concerning 11 per cent rise in serious road injuries since 2023.
Mudavadi on Thursday last week announced that there will be increased police presence and patrols both day and night along major highways.
Also Read: Tragic Accident on Narok-Bomet Road Kills 6 People, Injures 23
These enhanced patrols, he said, are designed to ensure compliance with traffic laws, prevent reckless driving, and stop unlicensed and overloaded PSVs from operating.
“I urge Kenyans in this festive season, especially public service vehicle drivers, to be careful and drive safely to ensure the safety of our people,” Mudavadi said while addressing the media at Harambee House.
NTSA Data
The directive came following the rise in the number of road crash casualties this year, with 21,620 cases recorded by November 2024, according to the latest data from NTSA.
This is an increase compared to 20,191 cases during the same period in 2023, signaling growing concerns about road safety in the country.
Fatalities have climbed to 4,282 in 2024, up from 3,901 in 2023 while serious injuries also rose to 10,662 compared to 9,501 last year.
Slight injuries, however, saw a slight decrease from 6,789 in 2023 to 6,676 this year. According to NTSA, pedestrians and motorcyclists remain the most vulnerable road users.
At least 3,917 pedestrians have died in road accidents this year, up from 3,427 in 2023. Motorcyclists on the other hand recorded 4,042 fatalities, an increase from 3,714 last year.
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