Yes, Mr Iteere, let Traffic Act apply to all motorists

Charles de Secondat says: "But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go." However, Jean-Pierre Raffarin continues by reminding us that: "But the Republic has its rules and it must not tolerate any abuse of them."

These are very apt descriptions of the wanton disregard of, and abuse of privilege, by the few that Kenyans have chosen to entrust it to. Little do they understand that with privilege comes greater responsibility and accountability for they are in the public eye.

Now road carnage leaves a trail of more than 3,000 dead every year despite entreaties by Government, civil society, religious leaders and long-suffering wananchi.

Various reports have shown that drivers, pedestrians and riders exercise impunity on roads in equal measure. But one group that stands out has been drivers of Government and diplomatic corp vehicles. They seem to feel the Traffic Act and wider law do not extend to them and is a twisted reflection of the Very Important Persons they ferry as they literally shove everyone else to the kerb.

However, it has taken the intervention of Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere, to put them in their place. For years these monsters double-parked, hogged and overlapped lanes, misused sirens to get right of way, and even caused accidents knowing full well that Government vehicles are not insured and that VIP stickers and diplomats have diplomatic immunity.

Regardless of rank

That is no longer the case if Mr Iteere’s directive that this Republic has rules, and that they apply to all who use highways and byways, regardless of rank, or political persuasion. Reduction of accidents should be the duty of all road users and not for supposedly lesser mortals alone. We hope the Commissioner’s directive of detention and surcharge of errant drivers is followed and enforced to the letter and in the spirit it was given — to save innocent lives.