The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has nabbed several motorists in random alcoblow tests conducted along the busy Embu–Nairobi highway.
This comes as the agency steps up enforcement ahead of the festive season.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NTSA said the overnight operation targeted drink-driving motorists, noting that the festive period often records a spike in road crashes linked to alcohol consumption.
The authority warned that driving under the influence of alcohol endangers not only motorists but also other road users.
“As the festive season ramps up, we are conducting random breathalyser (alcoblow) tests and last night, several motorists were netted along the Embu-Nairobi highway,” NTSA said.
The agency urged motorists planning to attend social events to designate a sober driver or use taxis and other alternative means of transport.
“Ukiplan kupiga sherehe, simply designate a sober driver or use a taxi,” the authority said, reiterating that road safety is a shared responsibility.
The Embu–Nairobi highway is one of the major corridors that experiences increased traffic during the December holidays, as Kenyans travel to and from rural areas.
Police and road safety agencies have in the past flagged the route as prone to speeding, reckless driving and alcohol-related offences.
Similar random checks are expected to continue across the country as part of a broader festive season road safety campaign aimed at reducing accidents and fatalities.
An Alcoblow test roadside breath analysis used to determine whether a driver has consumed alcohol beyond the legally permissible limit.
The device works by analysing a breath sample, giving officers an immediate indication of alcohol concentration in the body.
Motorists who fail the test risk arrest and prosecution in accordance with traffic laws.
Under Kenyan law, driving under the influence of alcohol is a criminal offence and attracts penalties that may include fines, imprisonment, suspension of a driving licence or disqualification from driving.
A motorist convicted of drunk driving faces a fine of up to Sh100,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
Courts may also suspend or cancel the driver’s licence, with repeat offenders facing stiffer penalties and longer disqualification periods.
NTSA’s mandate includes regulating the road transport sector, ensuring compliance with traffic laws, and promoting road safety through enforcement, education and public awareness campaigns.
Established under the NTSA Act, the agency is responsible for driver testing and licensing, motor vehicle inspection, road safety audits, and coordinating national efforts to reduce road carnage.
Enforcement operations such as alcoblow tests form part of its preventive approach, complementing public education campaigns that encourage motorists to obey traffic rules.
by JAMES GICHIGI
