NTSA arrested 12 drivers during a night-time road safety operation in Meru County.
NTSA impounded 12 vehicles during the night operation as officers stepped up road safety checks ahead of the festive season.
A Meru drink-driving crackdown led to the arrest of 12 drivers, with eight testing positive for alcohol. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) also impounded their vehicles during the night-time road safety operation.
NTSA worked with law enforcement agencies to carry out the checks in Meru County. Meanwhile, one driver refused to provide a breath specimen for alcohol testing, the authority said.
Meru drink-driving crackdown records high alcohol levels
In a statement, NTSA listed breathalyser readings of 1.483mg/l, 1.295mg/l, 1.189mg/l, 1.149mg/l and 0.780mg/l. Each exceeded the legal limit of 0.35mg/l.
The authority warned that alcohol impairs drivers’ judgment and increases the likelihood of fatal crashes. It also stressed that intoxicated motorists endanger passengers and other road users, not just themselves.
The arrests come as NTSA expands enforcement ahead of the festive season through its Msimu Bila Ajali, Usalama Barabarani campaign. Alongside compliance checks, the campaign includes public awareness activities for drivers and passengers.
NTSA said it had prioritised night operations because evening and late-night hours rank among Kenya’s most dangerous travel periods. The authority said increased surveillance would help officers identify and disrupt risky driving behaviour linked to crashes.
Festive season checks target speed and vehicle compliance
The campaign includes day and night checks along major transport corridors. Officers check for speeding and confirm that vehicle speed limiters work and continuously transmit data to the Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS).
They also examine documents for long-distance public transport operators, including passenger manifests, driver logs and route licences. These checks cover Road Service Licences and vehicle inspection stickers as well.
Other checks cover vehicle carrying capacity, driving licence validity and Public Service Vehicle badges. In addition, officers check whether passengers wear seatbelts throughout their journeys.
NTSA urged motorists to ensure their vehicles have functional speed limiters linked to IRSMS through its upgraded portal. However, it cautioned against responding to suspicious speed-violation messages, saying official notifications come exclusively through the SMS ID NTSA.
The authority also asked drivers to slow down at designated checkpoints and cooperate with enforcement officers. It said safety protocols aim to protect motorists and officers while keeping traffic moving.
For night journeys, NTSA urged drivers to reduce speed, maintain safe following distances and stay alert because visibility falls. It also reminded passengers that failing to wear seatbelts increases the risk of serious injury or death during crashes.
