NAIROBI,Kenya, Oct, 15 – Scores of pedestrians crossing the road at non-designated points along Outer Ring Road were Friday arrested by police following an elaborate operation.
During the multi-agency operation conducted by Police from Nairobi Area and officers from the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, at least 300 pedestrians were arrested.
According to available statistics by the law enforcement teams, hundreds of people are killed annually as a result of defying road safety rules.
Chief inspector John Njoroge who is in charge of operations at Nairobi Area said that the move is aimed at encouraging Keyans to observe road safety rules and equally take legally action against those endangering their lives and those of others.
During the operation, police arrested traders conducting their business along the footbridges often at times impeding movement.
The operation is now expected to be extended to major roads nationwide.
“We will move across the city to ensure that pedestrians only use footbridges to cross the road and not any other place” said Njoroge.
The operation which lasted for over three hours saw officers later during the afternoon move to Thika road which has recorded several pedestrian related deaths in recent years.
Just last evening, a pedestrian was hit by a car and died on the spot along Fedha area along the busy Outer Ring Road.
Those arrested were taken to the Buruburu police station and later arraigned where they were charged with several traffic offences.
They were slapped with fines of between Sh500 and Sh3,000.
Those who failed to pay their fines will spend the weekend behinds bars.
An sensitisation exercise is now expected to be conducted in the coming weeks spearheaded by the Kenya Police and National Transport Safety Authority to encourage Kenyans on the importance of road safety rules.
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