The Ministry of Interior has announced alternative routes for motorists heading to Nyanza, Western, and Central Kenya in a bid to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow ahead of the festive season.
In a statement on Wednesday, December 17, the ministry stated that motorists who are travelling to Western and Nyanza Regions should consider using the Nairobi Suswa-Narok road, which is more convenient than the Mai Mahiu Escarpment route.
According to the Motorists, travellers going to the central region should use the Nairobi-Nyeri-Nyahururu-Nakuru route.
"Motorists are advised to plan their journeys in advance, adjust travel schedules while en route, and make use of alternative routes where necessary to avoid congestion," the ministry stated.
" In particular, travelers from Nairobi to the Western and Nyanza regions are encouraged to use the Nairobi-Suswa-Narok route as an alternative to the Mai Mahiu escarpment. Heading through the Central region via Nairobi-Nyeri-Nyahururu-Nakuru route can also facilitate smoother and safer travel," the statement read in part.
In line with the resolutions from the National Council on the Administration of Justice(NCAJ), the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in collaboration with the traffic police, and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), will also enhance surveillance on major traffic corridors across the country.
The move aims to ensure compliance with road regulations, monitor enforcement, and prevent corruption to facilitate smooth traffic flow and enhance road safety during the festive season.
The ministry also stated that mobile courts will be deployed as needed, alongside both physical and digital measures, to enforce regulations and deter violations.
On the other hand, the ministry has also noted that security agencies have been deployed in high-traffic locations, including hotels, shopping malls, public beaches, tourist sites, Central Business Districts, critical infrastructure installations, places of worship, and entertainment joints, to reinforce security
Furthermore, security agencies have also intensified crackdown in Nairobi, the Coast, Western, Nyanza, Central, and Eastern regions, against organised criminal gangs that are rampant during this time of the year.
The agencies are also targeting other crimes, such as cultural and social crimes such as crimes, including FGM, defilement, early pregnancies, forced marriages, domestic violence, and religious extremism, which are rampant during this time of the year.
The government has also launched a crackdown against the production, sale, and consumption of dangerous substances.
"The National Multi-Agency Command Centre (NMACC) has been activated to coordinate surveillance, intelligence sharing, and rapid response before, during, and after the festive season," the ministry stated.
"In the spirit of community policing, members of the public are encouraged to report any crime or suspicious activity to the nearest police station or through the toll-free hotlines 999, 911, or 112," it added.
