Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has declared a zero-tolerance policy on traffic violations this festive season, warning of a severe crackdown on reckless drivers as thousands of Kenyans travel for the holidays.

The directive comes as the country faces a grim rise in road fatalities, a crisis that not only claims lives but also inflicts a massive economic toll. Provisional data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shows that 4,682 people had died in road crashes by mid-December 2025, an increase from the 4,479 recorded during the same period in 2024.

Speaking in Nyeri County, Kanja emphasized that additional police officers will be deployed across all major roads to curb the carnage. "Those who flout traffic regulations will face the full force of the law," the Police Chief warned, with a specific caution aimed at operators of public service vehicles.

The economic cost of this public safety failure is staggering. According to the World Health Organization, road accidents cost Kenya up to 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually, a figure that translates into hundreds of billions of shillings lost to medical bills, property damage, and the death of economically productive citizens.

A Force in the Making

The IG's firm stance was delivered at the National Police College, Main Campus in Kiganjo, during the launch of a nine-month training programme for 5,023 new police recruits. This cohort is part of a larger government initiative to enlist 10,000 new officers to bolster the service's capacity.

Kanja told the recruits they were embarking on a "vocation—a calling defined by service, sacrifice, and integrity," reinforcing the National Police Service's mandate to protect life and property. While the primary focus was on road safety, the IG also issued a stern warning to individuals who instigate chaos during political campaigns, stating they will be dealt with firmly.

To ensure compliance on the roads, authorities have outlined several measures for the festive period:

• Increased multi-agency patrols on all major highways and high-risk corridors.
• Strict enforcement of speed limits, anti-drunk driving laws, and vehicle roadworthiness.
• Heightened scrutiny of all public service vehicles to ensure they adhere to regulations.
• Deployment of mobile courts along major routes to instantly prosecute traffic offenders.

For the thousands of Kenyans travelling upcountry, the hope is that this intensified police presence will translate into safer journeys. The true test of this directive will be measured not in the warnings issued, but in the lives saved on Kenya's notoriously dangerous highways.