The days of negotiating your way out of a traffic stop with a "kitu kidogo" are officially over. In a move that fundamentally shifts the balance of power on Kenyan roads, Chief Justice Martha Koome has rolled out a sweeping enforcement operation that brings the courtroom directly to the tarmac.

Starting immediately, motorists on major holiday corridors will not just face police officers; they will face magistrates. The operation, launched Monday following a crisis meeting of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), deploys mobile courts to high-risk highways to dispense "instant justice" for traffic offenders. The message is stark: violate the rules, and you could be sentenced before your engine cools down.

The 'War Room' Strategy

This is not a routine police dragnet. It is a coordinated offensive by the Judiciary, the National Police Service, the NTSA, and—crucially—the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). Chief Justice Koome, chairing the NCAJ, described the initiative as a necessary intervention to halt the "slaughter" on our roads.

"We will deploy mobile traffic courts using physical and digital means," Koome announced, emphasizing that the objective is to process cases swiftly and transparently. By removing the delay between arrest and prosecution, the Judiciary aims to dismantle the window of opportunity where bribery usually thrives.

• The Team: Police, NTSA, Prisons Service, ODPP, and EACC officers working in joint units.
• The Tactics: Instant roadside charges for speeding, drunk driving, and dangerous overtaking.
• The Oversight: EACC detectives will monitor operations to arrest anyone—motorist or officer—offering or soliciting bribes.

A Deadly December

The crackdown is a direct response to grim statistics. Data from the NTSA reveals that road fatalities have climbed to 4,682 this year, a 5% increase from 2024. In the first two weeks of December alone, 28 Kenyans have lost their lives, with more than half of those deaths occurring in a single 48-hour window.

"We note the risky road behavior, particularly speeding," Koome warned. "We ask one another: when going for celebrations, do we forget that our destinations do not move?"

For the average Kenyan traveling upcountry ("shags") for Christmas, this operation changes the calculus of travel. The Nairobi-Nakuru highway, often dubbed the "Highway of Death," is a primary target. Motorists are advised that unroadworthy vehicles and reckless maneuvers will no longer result in a mere cash bail at a station, but a potential conviction on the spot.

Rights vs. Responsibilities

While the focus is on safety, the Chief Justice was quick to address concerns about due process. She assured the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the public that legal representation would remain accessible. "We will share [locations] so that those who are charged can quickly get in touch with their lawyers," she noted.

However, the presence of the EACC adds a layer of peril for those used to buying their freedom. Koome’s directive is explicit: "Do not pay any bribe when arrested." With human rights monitors also deployed, the operation attempts to balance strict enforcement with lawful conduct—a test of integrity for a traffic system often plagued by corruption.

As the festive rush peaks, the choice for drivers is now binary: follow the law, or spend your holiday explaining yourself to a magistrate on the side of the road.