Police Go After Drunk Drivers Along Nairobi Expressway

The National Police Service (NPS) has implemented the infamous alcoblow checks along the Nairobi Expressway in a bid to crack down on drunk drivers using the multi-billion road.

Since the 27-kilometre road was opened to the public, a number of road accidents have already been reported, some of which have claimed lives.

The alcoblow tests will be part of enhanced traffic measures that will coincide with the increase of traffic police officers along the highway and will target all drunk drivers flouting traffic rules.

“We have alcoblow on the expressway and we are going to use it for people who tend to take alcohol and contravene the law by driving under influence.

“We shall arrest drunk drivers and arraign them in court,” the police warned in a statement.

Private vehicle drivers will be targeted in the exercise as Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) were banned by the government from using that route.

This is after two matatus were involved in fatal accidents that occurred at the Mlolongo Toll Station, days apart, in what was found to be a result of careless driving and overspeeding.

Alcoblow will take effect on the expressway for the first time since the road was officially opened by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. The tests were revived on July 2022 after five years in the dark.

If found drunk driving on the expressway you risk a fine not exceeding Ksh100,000 or a jail term of not more than two years or both.

Other measures introduced to enhance safety for motorists using the road is the erection of electronic speed cameras along the road running from Mlolongo to Westlands.

"Yes, there are speed cameras along various points of the expressway which are operated by the traffic police. They measure the speed of the vehicle against the number plate," Moja Expressway Head of Public Relations Jeanne May Ongiyo stated on Monday, November 14.

"The information is then sent to the traffic command centre. Traffic officers along the roadway will then administer a punishment they deem fit, whether a verbal warning or issue a fine."

A photo captured by motorists along the Westlands - Museum hill stretch showed how the three cameras mounted cleverly on street lighting polls work.

Electronic speed cameras mounted along the Nairobi Expressway. /FILE

A lower board contains a sticker on the recommended speed limit and an electronic display of the speed captured by the guns while a figure within the limits is displayed in green with any numbers above in red.

The maximum speed limit along the 27-kilometre road is 80 km/hr, despite some motorists daring to exceed the speed limit along the Expressway.