Police officers in Western Kenya on Tuesday arraigned hundreds of motorists in roadside courts after they were arrested during a sting operation.
The officers mounted roadblocks in line with Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai’s new directive catching most motorists off guard.
IG Mutyambai had earlier ordered the regional commanders to take charge on issues of the mounting of roadblocks within their jurisdictions.
Mutyambai gave orders barring traffic police officers from erecting roadblocks or conducting traffic checks without their seniors' permission.
Travellers were stranded after most matatu operators were either nabbed or kept their vehicles off the roads to avoid the operation.
In the new rules, road checks will now be conducted by multi-agency teams that will include NTSA, the office of the DPP and roadside courts.
“As you have seen today, we will work with all the relevant departments from the DPP all through to KeNHA and the magistrates' courts in ensuring that anyone arrested with a traffic offense is fined on the spot,” Western Police Commander Rashid Yakub explained to reporters.
He further stated that this move would help reduce the inconvenience that traffic offenders undergo in the current system, where they have to be booked at a police station before being given a date to appear in court to be fined.
Yakub also disclosed that the operation would be rotational in order to ensure that all unroadworthy vehicles are removed from the roads.
He then warned members of the public informing them that traffic officers in the region would not be allowed on the roads alone without officers from other departments
The move was intended to stem the runaway corruption in the police force.
The new rules also state that regional commanders will be held directly responsible for traffic affairs in areas under their control.
