Thirty people have been arrested at the Allsops footbridge at the Ruaraka interchange along the Thika Superhighway, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has said.
The Authority said the arrests were made as it continued to urge pedestrians to use designated footbridges and crossing points at all times.
“Crossing at undesignated areas endangers pedestrians and puts other road users at risk,” NTSA said.
“Such crossings can also disrupt the free flow of traffic.”
The Authority urged pedestrians to use designated crossing points when crossing roads.
The arrests are part of an ongoing enforcement operation targeting pedestrians who fail to use designated footbridges and crossing points.
On August 5, at least 50 pedestrians were arrested in an ongoing enforcement operation by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) targeting people who fail to use designated footbridges along Thika Road.
The crackdown, conducted at the Allsops footbridge, saw officers arrest pedestrians accused of crossing the busy highway at undesignated points, obstructing the free flow of traffic and putting lives at risk.
The Authority urged pedestrians to always use designated footbridges and pedestrian crossings, warning that crossing roads at undesignated areas significantly increases the risk of accidents.
“Over 50 pedestrians have been arrested and will be charged at Milimani Law Courts for failing to use the footbridge and obstructing the free flow of traffic,” the Authority said at the time.
“Crossing in undesignated areas not only endangers their lives but also puts other road users at risk and disrupts traffic flow.”
The enforcement exercise is part of the Authority’s efforts to improve road safety and reduce pedestrian-related accidents on major highways.
The latest arrests come as the authority continues a citywide enforcement campaign that began on July 20.
Under the Traffic Act, pedestrians who fail to use designated crossing facilities risk fines ranging from Sh500 to Sh5,000 or prosecution for wilfully obstructing the free flow of traffic.
The enforcement campaign has so far targeted several high-risk locations across Nairobi, including Allsops, Buruburu, Nyayo Stadium and now Pipeline, where pedestrians have frequently been found crossing roads at undesignated points despite the availability of footbridges.
NTSA says the operations are informed by road safety data showing that pedestrians account for nearly 38 per cent of all road traffic fatalities in Kenya, making them the single largest category of road users killed in crashes.
