1,000 alcoblows to be deployed in new anti-drunk driving crackdown - CS Chirchir
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, who visited Kaplong Hospital to condole with victims and families, expressed outrage over the incident and others reported over the same weekend.
The government has unveiled a raft of new traffic regulations and committed to installing at least 1,000 breathalysers, also known as alcoblows, on roads across the country in a crackdown on drunk driving.
The measures come in the wake of a grisly accident that claimed 15 lives on Saturday, at Dajara Sita area along the Kaplong-Kapkatet Road in Bomet County.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, who visited Kaplong Hospital to condole with victims and families, expressed outrage over the incident and others reported over the same weekend.
“It is unacceptable that innocent Kenyans going about their business using public transport are put to such pains and anguish by irresponsible and careless drivers—some who imagine they can drink and drive,” Chirchir said.
Other tragic accidents that have occurred in the same region include a collision at Kimalany Bridge involving a Shangilia School bus and a Kericho-bound matatu, in which one of the drivers was suspected to be intoxicated.
Another fatal crash at Mlima ya Sondu involving a Nissan and a trailer left three schoolchildren and a teacher dead, with several others critically injured.
“To the affected families, my profound condolences for the loss of your loved ones. We did not have to get here. We will implement these regulations and take stern action to safeguard lives,” he said.
Chirchir also outlined the government’s legislative steps to address the crisis on Kenyan roads, noting that several rules have been developed by the State Department for Transport and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) under the Traffic Act Cap 403.
These include the Traffic (Drink-Driving) Rules, 2025, which aim to finally enforce a legal framework for combating drunk driving.
According to Chirchir, the previous Breathalyzer Rules of 2011 were invalidated by a court ruling in Millimani on the grounds that Section 44 of the Traffic Act did not expressly criminalise drunk driving.
However, he said following amendments by the National Assembly, it is now an offence for any person to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs beyond prescribed limits.
The offence attracts a fine of up to Sh100,000 or imprisonment for up to two years—or both. Additionally, those convicted will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving license for at least 12 months.
“With this, we will be putting up to 1,000 breathalysers on our roads to curtail those of us who cannot control their drinking when they know they will be on the roads,” Chirchir said.
The department has also proposed the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2025 which will mandate inspection of private vehicles by licensed private centres, while NTSA will continue to inspect public service vehicles, commercial vehicles, school transportation, and driving school cars.
In addition, the rules also include the Operation of Commercial Service Vehicles Rules, 2025, which will regulate the operations and management of commercial service vehicles weighing over 3,048 kilogrammes and operating on public roads.
Further, there will be the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2025 which offer a framework for the management, operation and regulation of school vehicles and transportation of children.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that these regulations had previously been gazetted without the necessary input from the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport. He however noted that the oversight has since been corrected.
“I signed and submitted the new regulations for re-gazettement in March 2025. They will be published this week, and implementation will be immediate,” Chirchir said.
The Ministry is now banking on these legal tools to enhance road safety and prevent further loss of lives on Kenyan roads.
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