The Transport Cabinet Secretary, Davis Chirchir, has revealed that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and police will be erecting breathalyzers on major roads across the country from this week to curb the increasing rate of road accidents across the country.
In a statement on Sunday, April 6, CS said that any driver caught under the influence of alcohol beyond the prescribed limit shall be fined up to Ksh100,000 or face an imprisonment of a term not exceeding two years or both.
Additionally, any person who shall be convicted of drinking and driving will be disqualified from obtaining a license for a period of one year.
According to the CS, the laws that had been thrown out by the courts have been amended by the National Assembly, granting the NTSA the mandate to enforce drunk driving. NTSA will be mounting the checkpoints as per the Traffic (Drink-Driving) Rules, 2025, birthed through the amendment of Section 4 of the Traffic Act, CAP 403.
Chirchir said that he has already signed and submitted the new regulations for re-gazettement, which will be published this week, and implementation will be immediate.
“Any person who, when driving or attempting to drive or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, is under the influence of an alcoholic drink or a drug beyond the prescribed limits shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of up to Ksh 100,000 (one hundred thousand) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both,” reads part of the new law.
Additionally, according to the CS, NTSA will regulate the operations of commercial vehicle management whose tare weight exceeds 3,480 kg on public roads in the country.
Chirchir has further noted that the government will provide a clear framework for the regulation, management, and operation of school vehicles and the transportation of children.
According to the CS, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will also regulate the inspection of private motor vehicles by private inspection centres and the inspection of public service vehicles, school transportation, commercial vehicles, and driving school motor vehicles.
The new laws are titled Traffic (Drink-Driving) Rules 2025, Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules 2025, Operation Commercial Service Vehicles Rules 2025, and the Traffic (School Transport) Rules 2025.
The CS who visited the victims of a road accident that happened on Saturday, April 5, along the Kaplong-Kapkatet road, which claimed the lives of 15 people, said that the new measures will be necessary to safeguard the lives of Kenyans.
"Once again, to the affected families, my profound condolences for the loss of your loved ones," he said.
"We did not have to get here. We will implement these regulations and take stern action to safeguard lives," he added.
Following the tragic accident, the National Police Service announced that it had launched investigations to determine the exact cause of the crash.
According to NPS, preliminary investigations revealed that the accident occurred as a result of a head-on collision between a public service vehicle and a lorry.
The service also urged road users to maintain extreme caution to avoid similar accidents from reoccurring.
