The Commissioner of Police has ordered the Kenya Police Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit and Traffic Police to carry out a major crackdown on un-roadworthy and defective motor vehicles. The operation is intended to maintain safety and restore sanity on our roads.

Yesterday alone, in an operation carried out by eight Motor Vehicles Inspectors and four Machine Attendants and backed up by Nairobi Area Traffic Police, 83 motor vehicles were stopped and inspected in Kabete Area. Out of these, a shocking 78 were found to be un-roadworthy and five found defective.

The immediate consequences of driving or owning an un-roadworthy motor vehicle includes: -

• The number plates of the un-roadworthy motor vehicle are removed and immediately returned to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
• The Inspection Sticker is also removed.
• The owner(s) will have to make all necessary repairs.
• The owner(s) will have to present the vehicle for inspection at the Kenya Police Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit after repairs.
• The vehicle will only be allowed back on the road after the owner(s) present a certificate of compliance from the Kenya Police Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to get their registration numbers back.

Those found with un-roadworthy or defective motor vehicles will, in addition to the procedure outlined above, be charged before court and be liable to prescribed penalties as by law defined.
Police Headquarters cautions motorists that the operation will continue until all vehicles on Kenyan roads comply with the standards as prescribed by law. Motorists should therefore ensure their vehicles are mechanically sound before taking them onto the road to avoid inconvenience.

All motor vehicle operators are advised to note particularly the following: -

• For Public Service Vehicles, the Kenya Bureau of Standards standard Ref: KS 1515 demands that all windows must be made of clear material. In this regard, tints are expressly prohibited for PSVs
• In addition all motor vehicles, whether PSV or Private, with the following will be declared un-roadworthy: -
- Defective or tampered with speed governor
- Defective speedometer
- Abnormal emission (Blue, white or black smoke)

PSVs should only pick and drop passengers at designated bus stops and stages and are required by law to prominently display their destination. The PSV drivers and conductors must at all times, when on duty, display their PSV badges and wear their prescribed neat uniforms.

Police Headquarters is also appealing to the public not to board or travel in un-roadworthy and defective vehicles to avoid inconvenience. Instead they should report to police such vehicles.

Today the operation is being coordinated at the Nairobi Area Traffic Police Headquarters along Gong Road. The media are welcome to report on the operations and take pictures.

(GIDEON M. KIBUNJAH)
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

29th August 2006