By Nicholas Waitathu

More than 240, 000 traffic offenders have been charged in courts across the country, and paid fines to the tune of about Sh500 million since the operationalisation of the Traffic Act 2012 in December last year. 

Traffic Commandant of Police, Samuel Kimaru, yesterday confirmed that since the implementation of the Traffic Act, the country has registered substantial progress in dealing ruthlessly with traffic criminals flouting the new rules on roads.

“Since December 2, we have arrested more than 240,000 traffic offenders and arraigned them in various courts in the country,” he said.  

He said traffic police officers arrest a minimum of 2,000 people every day for contravening the traffic laws, with the offenders paying between Sh4 million and Sh5 million in fines daily.

During the launching of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) yesterday, Kimaru attributed the success of the implementation of the new law to cooperation between the industry players — mainly vehicles owners — and the Government.

“Our officers are very busy ensuring passengers, matatu owners, drivers, conductors and even corrupt traffic officers adhere to the traffic regulations,” he added. 

Charged in court

Those already arrested and charged in courts include, passengers, motorcyclists, drivers, conductors, and vehicles owners.  

He warned matatu operators to comply with the new law as the traffic officers will not tolerate the hooliganism that has denied the matatu industry expected growth.

Over corrupt traffic police officers, Kimaru said stakeholders in the industry needs to cooperate to tame the vice.

”We are aware some of the traffic police officers are still demanding and receiving bribes from matatu workers. We have enlisted support of other institution — such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and National Anti-Corruption Campaign Steering Committee — to deal with the few rogue officers,” he said.  

For the period between January and March, the country lost 898 people — including pedestrians, drivers, passengers, and motorcyclists.