Chief Justice Martha Koome has appointed the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Renson Ingonga to lead a committee of 21 people centered around traffic reforms.
Koome made the appointments to the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Committee on Traffic Reforms in the Gazette Notice on Friday.
The team was tasked with exploring and recommending technology-driven solutions to digitise and expedite the traffic case administration process as well as examining existing laws pertaining to minor traffic offenses and propose amendments or decriminalisation.
The CJ also tasked the committee with developing and implementing joint training programs for justice sector actors and stakeholders involved in handling traffic matters as well as overseeing the undertaking of studies to deepen, expand, and advise the efficient administration of justice in traffic cases.
The appointees include Jacinta Nyamosi from the ODPP, Caroline Kabucho (Judiciary), Emmanuel Arunga (Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission), Judith Opili (National Transport and Safety Authority), Boniface Otieno Ojalah (National Police Service), Catherine Wahome (Kenya Law Reform Commission), and Miriam Nyamwamu (Kenya Prisons Service).
Others are Peter Murima (Motorists Association of Kenya), Stephen Musili Muli (Law Society of Kenya), Joseph Wairiuko (Kenya Association of Manufacturers), Ian Njuguna (Council of Governors), Josephine Kemunto Omwenga (Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya), Sophia Sitati (Office of the Attorney-General), Javan Odenyo (Council of Governors) and Andrew Opiyo (ICT Ministry).
Catherine W. Kamau (Probation and Aftercare Service), Ruth N. W. Njuguna (Directorate of Children’s Services), Abigael Muigai (Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority), and Susan Jean Ouko (National Council on the Administration of Justice) rounded up the applications.
The Committee will also promote public awareness and education on road safety, traffic laws, regulations, rules, court procedures and citizens’ rights and responsibilities.
"In the discharge of its mandate, the Committee may, on a temporary basis, identify and invite relevant technical expert(s) on a specific issue or agenda," read the notice in part.
"The Committee shall report to and update the NCAJ Council on its progress every quarter."
All the new appointees will serve for a period of three years.
The reforms come at a time when the country is experiencing a spike in road carnages, especially of individuals travelling back to city centers from the village. As of January 11, 84 deaths had been recorded since the beginning of the year.
