The government seems to be relentless on the ongoing crackdown of road safety in the country that has seen many take their unroadworthy vehicles out of the roads while others heavily fined for traffic offences.
Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Interior Dr. Fred Matiangi is really on a mission to bring back sanity on Kenyan roads and end the menace of road accidents in the country. The CS has taken matters into his own hands and is now traversing the country to ensure that his vision for transport in Kenya comes to life.
Imagine if the CS himself stops you at a roadblock and you do not have your safety belt on?
Dr. Matiangi has today made stops at Naivasha and Gilgil traffic police checks to sensitize road users including matatu operators and passengers on the need to obey traffic rules so as to ensure road safety. He also inspected the progress in the enforcement of traffic rules while encouraging motorists and other road users to leverage the power of collective responsibility in ensuring road safety.
On the 12th November 2018, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Interior launched a nationwide crackdown to restore sanity on Kenyan roads in the wake of a disturbing rise in the number of road accidents.
The team comprising the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the National Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) were jointly tasked with restoring sanity to the public transport sector through enforcement of the famous ‘Michuki rules.’
In the Michuki rules, all drivers of PSV vehicles are expected to have licences and badges with photographs on full display. Drivers and conductors are also required to have their uniforms on at all times; blue for the drivers and maroon for conductors.
PSVs were also required to display a genuine insurance certificate on the front windscreen. Tinted windows and graffiti were also banned on public service vehicles. Additionally, matatus were expected to carry functional fire extinguishers and first aid kits.
Passengers have also not been spared in the new crackdown as they are expected to only board or alight at designated bus stops. They also risk arrest should they fail to wear a seatbelt or board an already full vehicle.
While others have speculated that the fire from the CS will eventually die down and the transport industry will experience laxity once again, Matiang’i has proven that the Michuki rules are here to say and has time and time again ensured Kenyans of his commitment to restoring sanity on Kenyan roads.