NTSA revives alcoblow, night patrols, mobile courts to curb road accidents during festive season
Kenya has reintroduced Alcoblow tests, night patrols and mobile courts nationwide to curb rising festive-season road deaths, with tougher penalties, anti-graft reporting and tech-based monitoring of risky drivers.
The government has revived strict anti-drunk-driving measures, including Alcoblow breathalyser tests, night patrols and mobile courts, to curb the annual rise in road crashes during the December holidays.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in partnership with the National Police Traffic Department, said the intensified crackdown will target drunk driving and other traffic violations as holiday travel commences, aiming to reduce accidents over Christmas and New Year.
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Traffic Commandant Frederick Ochieng said enforcement will be stronger than in previous years, with a particular focus on night patrols when most fatal accidents occur.
“Most traffic accidents happen at night, thus why we are shifting our focus to night vigils. We are going to use speed guns and Alcoblow,” Ochieng said.
He noted that mobile courts will operate along major highways to ensure offenders face immediate penalties.
“We intend to reintroduce mobile courts and make justice quick. When you are arrested, you are convicted and sentenced immediately,” he added.
In a first-of-its-kind anti-corruption effort, the public will be allowed to record and report traffic officers soliciting bribes through a toll-free number displayed on highways and public notice boards.
“We will have a toll-free number. You can record a traffic officer receiving a bribe and send it to that number, then we follow up,” Ochieng said.
Road safety advocates have called for stronger oversight of long-distance trucks and boda bodas, which are linked to a high number of fatalities.
“Every accident involves long-distance trucks. They are the ones causing huge numbers of deaths. And boda bodas… Lorries are not inspected. Something needs to be done. We have been complaining about this,” Road Safety Association of Kenya, chairperson David Njoroge Kiarie said.
The crackdown follows alarming statistics showing 3,890 lives lost on Kenyan roads by October this year, an increase of over 85 deaths compared to the same period in 2024. Authorities say the enforcement will continue throughout the festive season to curb fatalities and promote safer travel.
NTSA Director of Road Safety Andrew Kiplagat urged motorists to remain vigilant.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Every stakeholder has a role to play—from ensuring vehicles are roadworthy to making sure drivers comply with the law,” he said during a stakeholders’ meeting in Nairobi.
NTSA also stressed the importance of speed limiters in public service vehicles (PSVs), offering free checks during the festive season.
“We are building a platform to monitor drivers’ offences across different vehicles and employers. This will ensure repeat offenders face stricter penalties, and driver behaviour improves,” Kushian Muchiri, CEO of the Federation of Public Transport Sector, added.
The Matatu Sacco Owners Association warned that December travel peaks often coincide with higher accident rates, noting that all vehicles must be serviced, roadworthy and handled by sober, rested drivers.
Boda boda operators have also been urged to maintain discipline and assist in identifying suspicious riders.
NTSA Acting Director General Angela Wanjira announced mandatory re-testing for drivers apprehended during enforcement, citing a 2.6 per cent rise in crash victims this year.
The initiative will leverage the Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS), which monitors vehicle speed, braking, route discipline and reckless overtaking. Drivers flagged for unsafe behaviour will undergo retraining before returning to the roads.
“Through analysing violations, we can identify risky behaviour early and ensure drivers undergo necessary retraining,” the NTSA said.
In Mombasa, County Commissioner Mohammed Nur said police and county traffic officers will conduct joint patrols to ease congestion and support emergency response.
“We are telling drivers to be cautious because traffic volumes will be high. We are working with traffic officers to ensure smooth movement,” he said.
He noted that authorities have also identified areas where unsupervised youths gather, potentially planning criminal activities during the festive season. Nur said police will increase night patrols in parks, estates and beachfronts to curb drug use, loitering, and exploitation of children, issues previously reported in Kisauni, Likoni, Nyali and parts of Mvita sub-counties.
The initiatives aim to improve road safety, reduce fatalities and ensure smoother travel during one of Kenya’s busiest holiday periods.
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