State agencies have rolled out a nationwide crackdown on reckless driving, reintroducing mobile courts, Alcoblow tests, and intensified night patrols as Kenya braces for the high-risk festive travel season. The move comes in response to grim statistics showing a persistent rise in road fatalities this year.

This multi-agency operation, involving the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service, aims to prevent the annual surge in road accidents that turns the December holidays into the deadliest period on Kenyan roads. For families across the country, this enforcement means stricter checks on major highways, but offers the promise of safer journeys to their loved ones.

A Sobering Reality Check

The crackdown was prompted by alarming data on road fatalities. By mid-November 2025, 4,195 people had lost their lives in road accidents, a nearly 3% increase from the 4,077 deaths recorded during the same period in 2024. Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable, accounting for 1,580 of these fatalities. These aren't just numbers; they represent breadwinners, mothers, and children whose loss has a devastating ripple effect on families and communities. The economic toll is just as staggering, with road accidents costing the Kenyan economy hundreds of billions of shillings annually.

To tackle this, authorities are leaving little to chance. Key measures in the nationwide operation include:

• Return of Mobile Courts: To ensure swift justice, offenders will be arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced on the spot at designated roadblocks, a move intended to eliminate bribery and keep repeat offenders off the roads.
• Intensified Night Patrols: Data shows most fatal crashes occur at night. In response, police and NTSA will increase night vigils, using speed guns and breathalyzers to catch offenders.
• Public Anti-Corruption Reporting: In a novel move to fight graft, the public is now encouraged to record and submit videos of traffic officers soliciting bribes via a toll-free number that will be displayed on major highways.
• Vehicle Inspections: Pre-festive inspection clinics will be conducted at major bus terminals to ensure vehicles are roadworthy before they begin long-distance journeys.

Targeting the Root Causes

Traffic Commandant Dr. Frederick Ochieng emphasized that the enforcement will be more robust than in previous years. The focus is squarely on behaviors that lead to the most catastrophic accidents: drunk driving, speeding, and driver fatigue. Long-distance trucks and boda boda operators, identified as significant contributors to fatal crashes, are also under strict scrutiny.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has affirmed the police service's full commitment, deploying multi-agency teams along all major transport corridors. These teams will enforce a range of regulations, from the mandatory installation of certified speed limiters to ensuring all vehicles have valid insurance and safety equipment.

For the thousands of Kenyans planning to travel upcountry, the message from authorities is clear: expect delays due to numerous checkpoints, but comply with the rules. As NTSA Director of Road Safety Andrew Kiplagat noted, the goal is not to punish but to prevent needless loss of life. “Road safety is a shared responsibility,” he urged. This festive season, the hope is that stricter enforcement and public vigilance will ensure more families celebrate together, rather than mourn.