Following a tragic accident that happened at the Nairobi Expressway's Mlolongo toll station and that was caused by a speeding motorist, Moja Expressway has put in place measures to avert such cases.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Samwel Kumba, Deputy Director of Corporate Communications at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), detailed some preventive measures that will be adopted including enforcing the speed limits.
Kumba noted that Moja Expressway is rolling out an extensive sensitisation exercise aimed at reminding motorists of the importance of adhering to the 80km/hr speed limit on the 27 kilometer road running from Mlolongo to Westlands.
On the main highway, the speed limit has been capped at 80 kilometers per hour and at 20 kilometers per hour while approaching toll stations.
The KeNHA official noted that motorists found culpable of exceeding the stipulated speed limits will face the law as contained in the Traffic Amendment Act 2021.
The Act, which was signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, June 21, stipulates that the driving license of a person who has been convicted for the violation of a speed limit shall be invalidated for a period of not less than three years.
"However, if a motorist violates the speed limit rule more than three times, one is liable on conviction, to imprisonment for a term of not less than three months, or a fine of not less than twenty thousand shillings, or both," the Act reads in part.
According to Kumba, attendants at the toll stations are now able to tell if a motorist exceeded the speed limit by calculating the time they drive from the entry to the exit point.
He, however, explained that the company operating the Nairobi Expressway cannot impose penalties on motorists violating the rules since the constitution only allows traffic police officers to enforce traffic rules.
Kumba added that after the sensitisation exercise, attendants will now start submitting details of motorists who flout rules on the Nairobi Expressway to relevant authorities.
"Attendants at toll stations right now are just carrying out sensitisation exercise informing the motorists the importance of adhering to all the traffic rules.
"They are able to tell if a driver exceeded the speed limit. So to address that issue, details of drivers who fail to adhere to traffic rules will be forwarded to the police who will determine the punishment. As you know, the Moja Expressway company is not mandated by the constitution to enforce traffic rules," Kumba told Kenyans.co.ke.
According to Kumba, the small speed bumps at every toll station are meant to help motorists slow down while waiting to be served by the attendants or to be cleared to exit for those using OBU.
"The small bumps have been there since the launch, they are supposed to alert a driver to slow down while approaching the toll station. At this point the speed should be as indicated on the Nairobi Expressway signposts," Kumba added.
Other than the traffic rules, the Moja Expressway Company is also expected to fully enforce the fines for destroying the property along that elevated road.
Destruction of the ticketing machine attracts a fine of Ksh1.9 million while that of the Vehicle type recogniser attracts a fine of Ksh2.4 million.
The motorists will be expected to pay Ksh8.8 million for the damage to the Cantilever variable information board which provides info on where the direction a car is headed.
Other fines include damage to a single street light which has a fine of between Ksh143,890 and Ksh262,023 and putting up graffiti attracts a Ksh2,362 fine.
Kumba further noted that Moja Expressway will continue reviewing the safety measures to ensure motorists get best services while moving on that road.
