The National Taskforce on Police Reforms, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, has proposed the abolishment of all roadblocks in the country.
In its report submitted to President William Ruto on Thursday, the task force highlighted that the roadblocks had become avenues of corruption.
As an alternative, the Maraga-led team proposed mobile patrol units to maintain law and order on the roads.
In line with the enforcement of traffic rules, the taskforce proposed for the National Police Service (NPS) to leverage technology as a way of catching traffic offenders.
"The taskforce envisages the use of technology in the detection of traffic infractions, and the attendant fines becoming cashless by use of technology.
"While that is being done, the taskforce recommends appropriate amendment of Section 65 of the NPS Act within six months and the abolition of police roadblocks and their replacement with mobile patrol units," read the report in part.
On the other hand, it was proposed that the Traffic Police Unit be renamed to the Traffic Management Unit.
Maraga and his team recommended that the new traffic department enlist better-trained police and also reduce the number of officers attached to it.
The former Chief Justice further highlighted scenarios of cases of conflict of interest, accusing some traffic police officers of owning Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).
"Traffic police officers own public service vehicles and motor vehicle breakdown services, wines and spirits, gambling outlets, and generally engage in business and activities that compromise their impartiality and professionalism," Maraga highlighted.
He questioned how the officers would effectively and professionally oversee traffic laws if their vehicles were also on the road.
Notably, the abolishment of traffic roadblocks has been in the pipeline this year, with Interior CS Kithure Kindiki ordering their removal by November 1.
"Roadblocks are an old form of security in various nations. Roadblocks should be mounted on the request of the security operators to achieve a specific agenda and once it has served its purpose it’s dismounted," he stated while appearing before the National Assembly's EAC block and Integration committee on August 24.
