Motorists and commuters were on Monday left stranded for hours along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway following a crackdown by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) officials and traffic police officers.
More than 40 un-roadworthy vehicles were impounded during the crackdown near Naivasha town and tens of passengers heading upcountry for Christmas festivities left stranded.
Rift Valley Traffic enforcement officer Rashid Ali said the drivers were arrested for committing various traffic offences which included operating away from their routes.
Ali further said that some of those drivers who had been arrested had tampered with their speed governors.
“We haven’t recorded any case of excess passengers and despite the complaints from the passengers, this crackdown will continue,” Ali told the press.
The senior traffic officer said the exercise will continue during the festive season to ensure drivers observe traffic rules and passengers are safe on the road.
“This is part of the ongoing campaign to make sure that our roads are safe and we shall extend it to other parts of our roads,” Ali added.
The drivers who were arrested will be arraigned in court on December 27, 2019.
The crackdown caused a massive traffic snarl-up along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway messing up the travel plans of many passengers.
One of the passengers, Wesley Abuga, said the crackdown had left most of them stranded for hours. He added that young ones and the sick were the worst affected.
“Some matatus have not been inspected and this whole exercise has ended up leaving us in the bushes as we seek alternative means of travel,” Abuga told KBC.