OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE NAIROBI – KENYA P R E S S B R I E F Ladies and Gentlemen, ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN KERICHO AND MEASURES TO CURB FURTHER INCREASE OF LOSS OF LIVES ON OUR ROADS Early yesterday (7th September 2013) at around 6 am in the morning, six people perished in a road accident. The accident which occurred at Kaptunga in Kericho County involved a Modern Coast Bus registration number KBB 192X and a Toyota probox saloon car registration number KBQ 093B. The bus was heading to Kisumu from Mombasa while the saloon car was coming from the opposite direction. Apparently, the bus was trying to overtake another motor vehicle at an accident black spot when it collided with the saloon car head on. Out of the dead, 1 passenger was in the bus while the other five were in the saloon car. Our initial findings also confirm that the saloon car was overloaded as it was carrying 8 family members and among the dead was the driver. The National Police Service has repeatedly advocated for safe driving as well as observance and enforcement of traffic rules, but it is unfortunate that we continue to witness bad accidents as well as loss of lives This year alone, and as at today, we have lost two thousand, two hundred and eleven (2211) people through road accidents. In particular, we have lost 1019 pedestrians, 575 passengers, 211 motor cyclists, 205 drivers, 106 pillion passengers and 95 pedalcyclists. The National Police Service has also recorded 1776 cases of fatal accidents, 2029 serious road accidents and 491 slightly serious road accidents. As a measure of addressing this situation, I have with immediate effect taken the following action. 1. I am directing that all OCPD and all police officers countrywide to detect all traffic offences and enforce traffic rules at all times. This is in line with section 117B Traffic Amendment Act 2012. As this directive is being implemented, I am also once again cautioning all police officers who will be caught receiving or soliciting bribes in order to turn a blind eye to traffic offences or any acts of criminality that they will be firmly dealt with. Police officers must detect traffic offences and execute court warrants issued against drivers or against any other persons who fail to attend court. Already, I have made changes in the traffic department as a way of re-invigorating its operations and bringing on board freshness. I have also taken action of a number of officers who have been found to have violated certain operational and administrative statutes. The action I have taken includes transfers, interdiction and in some instances of serious violations, dismissals. 2. Further, I have planned to hold a consultative meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for transport and major stakeholders to look into the modalities of enacting legislations which will assist in maintaining order on our roads. This will include the need to have two drivers in all long distance journeys. Of the two drivers, each will be required to drive for not more than eight (8) hours and thereafter take a rest of a similar number of hours, among other rules and regulations. I am also seeking to explore possibilities of having drivers and conductor of all such vehicles to be employed on permanent terms as opposed to temporary basis. This meeting will also discuss strong measures which will ensure that both the driver and the owner of the vehicle will be held accountable for such accidents. The driver who causes an accident may lose his licence for life while the owner of the vehicle which causes accident through carelessness and negligence will forfeit their TLB licences or any other trading licenses for that matter. This will be on top of any other relevant preferred charges against them, which may include causing death or injury through careless driving and operating unroadworthy vehicles. For the owners of the vehicles, they can face further charges of being accomplice to crime of causing death. However, as we seek to bring on board these legislations, I want to urge the public to help in making travel on our roads more safe by desisting from boarding unroadworthy vehicle, overloaded vehicles and vehicles that are driven dangerously on the roads. On behalf of the government and on my own behalf, I wish to convey sincere and heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of those who have lost their loved ones as well as those Kenyans who are hospitalized as a result of the accident. Thank you, and may God Bless Kenya. DAVID M. KIMAIYO, CBS, DSM INSPECTOR GENERAL NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE Date: 8th September 2013
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 10:51:05 +0000