This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
On July 10, 2019, a new era of road safety dawned on Kisumu as PSV operators took the initiative to enforce traffic rules along the Kisumu-Nairobi Highway.
Following a directive by Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai to scale down the number of traffic police officers and police checkpoints on major roads, PSV operators decided to take matters into their own hands.
Self-regulation inspection checkpoints were mounted along the highway, with drivers and touts found to be flouting traffic rules being subjected to disciplinary measures through their respective saccos, including suspension of their licenses.
Several excess passengers were left stranded along the road after being ordered out of the vehicles by inspection teams.
Francis Mbatia, a driver plying the Kisumu-Kericho road, hailed the effort to bring sanity on the roads, saying motorists should not take advantage of the absence of traffic officers to flout rules and endanger the lives of passengers.
"I support this move to bring sanity on our roads. Traffic officers were hell bent on collecting money from motorists at the expense of the well-being of the passengers," Mbatia said.
Another motorist commended the step taken by their Sacco officials, saying it was good that drivers and conductors were adhering to traffic rules.
Booker Odhiambo, an official from Kisumu PSVs owners association, said inspection would be conducted in all major roads leading to Kisumu city, with a focus on removing excess passengers from vehicles and educating them on the dangers of boarding already full vehicles.
