24 drivers arrested in traffic crackdown over defective speed limiters

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 6-Twenty-four drivers have been arrested for various traffic offences, including operating vehicles fitted with defective speed limiters, in a renewed crackdown on road safety violations.

The enforcement operation targeted motorists and operators found flouting traffic regulations, with authorities warning Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and commercial vehicle owners against using vehicles whose speed-limiting devices are faulty or non-functional.

The authorities have emphasised that speed limiters play a critical role in preventing road crashes by controlling vehicle speeds and protecting drivers, passengers and other road users.

The arrests were made during a night-time compliance operation along the Kakamega-Webuye Highway as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) intensifies surveillance on major roads ahead of the December festive season.

The latest operation comes barely two days after the authority announced the arrest of 21 drivers during a similar joint inter-agency crackdown along the Kakamega-Mumias Road.

During Wednesday’s operation, officers identified several violations, including driving under the influence of alcohol, operating vehicles without valid driving licences and using expired PSV badges.

Other offences included operating vehicles with cracked windscreens, worn-out tyres, expired inspection certificates and invalid insurance documents. Some motorists were also found using unauthorised registration plates.

The arrests form part of NTSA’s festive-season road safety campaign dubbed Msimu Bila Ajali, Usalama Barabarani, which targets dangerous driving behaviour through increased daytime and night-time inspections along major transport corridors.

The authority has also stepped up monitoring of vehicle speeds through its upgraded Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS), which enables real-time tracking of speed violations and compliance with speed limiter requirements.

Under existing traffic regulations, public service vehicles and commercial vehicles weighing more than 3,048 kilogrammes are required to have approved speed governors adjusted to prevent them from exceeding 80 kilometres per hour.

NTSA has warned vehicle owners and transport operators against tampering with speed limiters, saying defective devices could expose passengers and other road users to unnecessary danger.

The authority has also urged long-distance PSV operators to strengthen driver fatigue management, ensure drivers have valid licences and PSV badges, and enforce seatbelt use throughout journeys.

The renewed crackdown comes amid growing concerns over road fatalities, with NTSA intensifying enforcement as travel activity is expected to increase during the festive season.