The Inspector General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, has ordered an immediate nationwide crackdown on traffic violations following a sharp rise in road accidents just six days into the new year. The directive, issued on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, targets preventable errors such as drunk driving and speeding. The NPS has expressed concern and regret over the fatalities and injuries caused by these incidents.
In an official statement, NPS Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga described the situation as "unacceptably alarming and a crisis demanding immediate, collective, and decisive action." Preliminary analysis of most accidents highlights preventable human errors, including reckless driving, speeding, driver fatigue, driving under the influence, and violations by boda boda riders such as traveling the wrong way and riding on sidewalks.
Inspector General Kanja has instructed all regional, county, and sub-county traffic police commanders to implement high-visibility enforcement against all traffic violations. Special focus is on speeding, drunk driving, unroadworthy vehicles, and public service vehicle (PSV) compliance, including more breathalyzer tests. Courts will stay ready to address all offenses.
Operations will intensify at blackspots nationwide, guided by crash mapping data. The NPS plans to collaborate with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and other stakeholders in a multi-agency approach. This follows recent new-year accidents that have claimed 31 lives.
Police urge all drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, boda boda operators, and passengers to obey traffic rules, especially with students returning to school after the holidays. They also call on Saccos, PSV owners, and boda boda associations to self-regulate by installing and monitoring speed governors, managing driver fatigue with proper schedules, and maintaining vehicles regularly.
Despite NTSA's ongoing compliance checks, accidents continue, particularly at night, with truck drivers calling for an end to enforcement measures.
