Mobile traffic court hands out ‘instant sentences’

Motorists along Mombasa Road were on Thursday caught unawares by a mobile court that meted out on-the-spot sentences for traffic offences.

Defective vehicles were pulled off the road and their drivers arrested while those breaching the Highway code were sentenced by a magistrate in a tented court by the roadside.

“This is part of the road safety campaign that was launched on Wednesday aimed at bringing discipline. We will run this exercise indiscriminatively and ensure we arrest all those who violate any traffic rule,’’ said Superintendent Chirchir Cheroni who led the operation.

Others in the exercise were the Athi River principal magistrate Peter Ooko and Athi River base commander Charles Opondo.

Those who failed to pay the fines were immediately taken to the Athi River prison. Those affected were drivers of speeding vehicles, others without licences and bodaboda operators without reflectors and helmets.

The fines ranged from Sh10,000 to Sh50,000.

Mr Cheronyei put all traffic offenders, including passengers and pedestrians, countrywide on notice.

“Those who fail to use seat belts will be apprehended but in case of the vehicle lacking seat belts the vehicle owner will be charged,” said the superintendent.

The crackdown follows increased road accidents on Kenya roads which have been attributed to speeding, unroadworthy vehicles and disregard of traffic rules.
“Traffic police officers will keenly watch all road users to avoid any careless driver getting away with any mistake,’’ said Mr Opondo.

Hundreds of passengers who boarded the Mombasa and Machakos bound vehicles and those headed to Nairobi were stranded after PSV vehicles found with defects were impounded.

This led to an increase in fares with fare between Kitengela and Machakos rising from Sh200 to Sh500.