NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Police Service (NPS) has declared an aggressive, countrywide crackdown on Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) in a bid to stem a deadly surge in road accidents that has left dozens dead in recent weeks.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NPS Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga announced that traffic police will be deployed nationwide to enforce a raft of safety measures targeting rogue operators. Officers will monitor vehicle speeds, verify National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA)-issued licenses, conduct anti-drunk-driving sweeps, and dismantle unauthorized lighting systems fitted on vehicles.
Other enforcement actions will include assessing PSV Sacco compliance, ejecting unroadworthy vehicles from service, and penalizing drivers and owners for overloading goods and carrying excess passengers.
“The National Police Service, alongside other stakeholders, continues to step up efforts through multi-pronged strategies,” Nyaga said. “These include speed monitoring, enforcement against overloading, cracking down on PSVs on unlicensed routes, removing unlawful lights, verifying NTSA-issued licences, and ensuring only roadworthy vehicles remain on our roads.”
Nyaga stressed that most road accidents are “entirely preventable” if motorists and pedestrians obey existing traffic laws.
“The vast majority of these accidents are preventable if road users change their behavior by avoiding speeding, dangerous overtaking, drink-driving, overloading, driver fatigue, and careless road crossing,” he added.
The intensified enforcement comes against the backdrop of a series of gruesome crashes. On Thursday, August 7, 25 people were killed in Kisumu’s Mamboleo area when a school bus overturned at the notorious Coptic roundabout. Nineteen passengers died at the scene, while six succumbed to their injuries at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Just two days later, tragedy struck again. On Saturday, August 9, seven people perished when a PSV collided head-on with a lorry at Korompoi Global Estate along the Namanga–Isinya Highway.
Authorities say investigations into both accidents are ongoing, with NPS working in coordination with NTSA and other state agencies to determine causes and hold responsible parties to account.
The latest measures signal a return to stricter PSV enforcement reminiscent of the late 2000s Michuki Rules era, which saw a dramatic drop in fatalities. However, transport analysts warn that without sustained political will and consistent roadside enforcement, the current momentum could quickly fizzle out.
For now, traffic police countrywide have been ordered to keep up the pressure — and for passengers and drivers alike, the message is clear: obey the rules, or face the law.
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