The National Police Service (NPS) has stepped up its road safety campaign, sending traffic officers to engage motorists, public transport operators, students and pillion passengers in six counties as end-of-year school holiday travel picks up.

The sensitisation exercises were held on Wednesday, 21 October, in Mandera, Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa, Narok and Garissa, the service said in a post on its X account on Thursday, as reported by KBC and People Daily. Officers worked from various traffic bases in the six counties, focusing on compliance with traffic rules as a way of preventing crashes.

The service said the education and enforcement exercises would continue across all its commands.

"The National Police Service reiterates its commitment to maintaining law and order on the roads," the statement said, according to People Daily.

Part of a wider holiday crackdown

The county sessions follow a nationwide enforcement drive announced on Monday, 19 October, by the NPS in partnership with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). That operation targets speeding, overloading, unroadworthy vehicles and failure to wear seat belts. School transport vehicles are also subject to thorough inspections.

Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the closure of schools would bring a surge in the number of learners travelling across the country.

"This heightened movement inevitably increases traffic volumes on our roads, thereby raising the risk of road traffic accidents," Mr Nyaga said, as quoted by People Daily.

More officers are being deployed on the roads for the holiday period. Motorists have been warned to keep to speed limits, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and stay off their phones while driving. Pedestrians and boda boda riders have been urged to follow traffic rules as well.

Parents and guardians have been asked to entrust children only to reputable public service vehicle operators whose vehicles are roadworthy. NTSA separately reminded school transporters to check their lights, tyres and brakes before setting off, Kenyans.co.ke reported.

Recent crashes raise concern

The campaign comes amid renewed concern over road safety following a series of crashes. They include a City Hoppa shuttle that overturned near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on 15 October, leaving several people feared dead and scores injured. The cause of that crash had not been established at the time of reporting.

Police have previously identified speeding, dangerous overtaking, driver fatigue and drink-driving as leading behaviours behind crashes on Kenyan roads. NTSA data cited by Kenyans.co.ke show that pedestrians make up the largest share of road deaths, which leaves schoolchildren especially exposed when walking to school or crossing highways.

The holiday operation builds on the Operation Watoto Wafike Salama campaign run during the August school holidays. That campaign brought together NTSA, the police and county transport and safety committees for roadside inspections and checks on vehicles carrying learners.

How to report violations

The police have asked members of the public to report reckless driving and unsafe vehicles to any officer or at the nearest police station. Reports can also be made through the emergency lines 999 and 911, the DCI toll-free line 0800 722 203 under the #FichuakwaDCI platform, or via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000.

Photos: A traffic police officer inspects a matatu (Tmaokisa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); a boda boda rider carrying a passenger in Karen, Nairobi (Lebu Ayiga / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).