He told the court he had been rushing to pick up his sick child from school, and in the hurry had forgotten that his car insurance had lapsed.

Gospel DJ and media personality Samuel Muraya, better known as DJ Mo, was on Wednesday, November 4, fined Sh5,000 at the Milimani Traffic Court in Nairobi after pleading guilty to traffic offences committed on Thika Road the same day, the Nation and The Eastleigh Voice reported.

What happened on Thika Road

According to the charge sheet cited by the outlets, DJ Mo was stopped near Roasters along Thika Road while driving a Jaguar. Police said he was directed by a uniformed officer, Corporal Chelimo, to drive to a police station but instead headed in the direction of Thika, prompting officers to pursue him before he was arrested.

He faced three counts:

  • Driving without a valid third-party insurance policy, contrary to the Insurance (Motor Vehicle Third Party Risks) Act.
  • Failing to display a valid insurance certificate on the vehicle.
  • Disobeying the verbal instructions of a uniformed police officer.

'I forgot to renew'

In mitigation, DJ Mo told the court that he had forgotten to renew the policy because his mind was on collecting his ailing child. The Nation reported that he also said the arrest disrupted his plans and caused him to miss a scheduled flight to the United States.

The court fined him a total of Sh5,000. K24 Digital reported that the amount was split into Sh2,000 for disobeying the police directive, with an alternative of 21 days in jail, and Sh3,000 for the expired insurance, or 30 days in jail. He paid the fine and was released.

Why it matters for motorists

Third-party insurance is mandatory for every vehicle on Kenyan roads, and officers routinely check certificates during crackdowns. The case comes as the National Transport and Safety Authority and police step up enforcement ahead of the festive season, when traffic checks typically intensify.

For DJ Mo, one of the best-known faces in Kenya's gospel entertainment scene, the episode quickly trended online, with fans divided between sympathy for a father in a hurry and reminders that the rules apply to everyone.

The DJ, who rose to fame through gospel TV shows and is married to singer Size 8, has not commented further on the case beyond what he told the court.

Photos: Mpasho; The Eastleigh Voice. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.