NTSA’s dragnet in Thika nab 16 people, Authority vow to conduct operations 24/7.

Police officers arrest some of those people found flouting various traffic rules during a weekend crackdown along Thika Superhighway near the former castle Industry.

I6 people were on Saturday arrested by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) along the Thika Superhighway in an operation dubbed ‘Fika Salama’ that was mounted at the former castle breweries near Witeithie.

Speaking during the crackdown, NTSA Deputy Director and Head of Enforcement Lt. Col. Hared Adan said that they sought to ensure that Kenyans were safe on all roads during the month of December and at least reduce the number of these accidents by half.

He noted that 90% of accidents were as a result of human error mainly due to overspeeding and drunken driving.

The authority has already mapped some hotspot areas especially along Nairobi-Nyeri-Isiolo Highway, Nairobi-Embu-Meru Highway, Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, Nairobi-Malaba Highway, Nairobi-Narok-Kisii-Migori Highway and Nairobi-Naivasha-Gilgil-Nyahururu Road.

“Our officers will conduct round-the-clock patrols along these routes and we appeal to motorist to exercise caution on the roads. Our aim is not to arrest people but to sensitise them on importance of observing road safety and compliance with road safety measures,” said Adan.

Those arrested were caught to have flouted various traffic rules among them overspeeding, drunk driving, carrying excess passengers or even driving unroadworthy vehicles.

There was drama when some people attempted to flee from the officers and in some cases motorists causing minor crashes as the sped off to avoid the dragnet.

Several people were forced to walk about 8km to Thika town following the towing of the vehicles they were travelling in.

“Our driver and conductor have fled upon being stopped by police, we have been left without an option other than to walk to Thika town,” lamented Agnes Muthoni, one of the commuters caught in the mix.

In months of December 2015 and 2016, 307 and 290 people respectively lost their lives along Kenyan superhighways, causes attributed to overspeeding, drunk driving and excess carrying of passengers.