This archive report was first published on 26 December 2019.
On December 26, 2019, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Nordin Haji recommended that the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai provide traffic police with body cameras to assist in investigating road irregularities.
The call came after public outcry over traffic charges being preferred against excess passengers traveling in Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) during the festive seasons.
According to the Traffic Act, drivers, conductors, and PSV owners who carry excess passengers after conviction are liable to a fine not exceeding Kshs 20,000, plus an additional Kshs 5,000 for each person in excess of the licensed capacity.
However, the DPP noted that excess passengers should first be requested to alight and may only be charged if they decline to comply with the order of a police officer or the owner, driver, or conductor of the PSV.
"It will be difficult to gather enough evidence to demonstrate that an excess passenger refused to comply with the order of a police officer or declined a request by the owner, conductor, and/or driver not to enter the PSV," the DPP noted.
"Further, to assist in maintaining law and order on the road, to reduce police excesses, to assist in case of violations, to support investigations, and to mitigate any possible corruption, it may be prudent to consider providing officers assigned traffic duties with body cameras," the DPP added.
