Police Condemn NTSA After Hot Pursuit Along Rift Valley Road [VIDEO]

The National Police Service (NPS) reprimanded the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) after a video showing traffic officers in a high-speed chase with a private car along the Rift Valley escarpment went viral.

The video seen by Viral Tea showed the car, branded in NTSA colours, cornering the vehicle with its siren on in an effort to stop it along the single-lane road snaking through the escarpment.

The private car tried to swerve to the side of the road, looking for a way to escape the determined cop car, but the driver's frantic efforts were failing by the second as the car kept blocking his escape route.

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The chase continued past the climbing lane as the saloon car was forced to drive on the right-hand side at the risk of colliding with oncoming traffic.

However, the NTSA car remained relentless, cutting him off at the front to the point of missing a possible U-turn at a petrol station.

The NPS condemned the incident, further announcing that it was under review before pronouncing corrective measures.

"The attention of NPS is drawn to a clip in which a law enforcement patrol vehicle performing traffic duties is seen in a hot pursuit chase of a private saloon car. 

"We acknowledge that the essence of road safety is to promote sanity and responsibility whilst on public roads, and this is a basic expectation placed on all motorists and road users, police included. As we continue to review the incident for corrective action, we condemn the irresponsible behaviour.

"Motorists are cautioned to at all times adhere to the rule of law to ensure their safety while on the road," NPS stated.

NTSA officers had their powers reduced in 2018 following a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The safety authority's mandate was handed to traffic police officers, which forced NTSA officers off the roads as the traffic cops took over.

Roads Safety Association of Kenya, however, moved to Court seeking orders to trash the mandate, arguing that fatalities due to road accidents were on the rise since NTSA's exit.

“That prior to the third respondent’s removal from the road by the President, loss of lives on the roads were on the decline, but they have now increased,”  RSA chairman David Kiarie stated. 

High Court judge Anthony Mrima nonetheless upheld the directive.