Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has announced plans to introduce stringent rules in efforts to curb road accidents.
Speaking at Kaplong on Saturday when he visited victims of the grisly Sotik accident, Chirchir said top on the plans is the reintroduction of breathalysers due to increased in drink-driving cases.
Chirchir noted that at least 1,000 breathalysers will be deployed to various parts of the country so that drivers who indulge in alcohol are arrested and prosecuted.
“We currently facing a serious problem of indiscipline on our roads, and to ensure discipline and sanity, we seek to reintroduce breathalysers so that we can curb cases of accidents that are caused by human error,” he said.
The breathalysers were banned from the roads last year after the Court of Appeal ruled that they were illegal.
The CS, who was accompanied by Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and Sotik MP Francis Sigei, regretted that Kenyans were perishing on the roads due drink-driving.
He revealed plans to gazette a raft of legislations geared at taming indiscipline on the roads.
“As the Ministry of Transport, together with the National Transport and Safety Authority, seeks to introduce regulations which include traffic, motor vehicle inspection, and commercial service vehicle rules,” he said.
The CS cautioned Kenyans against boarding overloaded vehicles, saying the vehicle involved in the accident on Saturday was carrying more than 20 people.
“Let us also ensure we are disciplined as Kenyans because safety is with you; the habit where we board vehicles that are already crowded – in this we will ensure that casualties during accidents are minimised,” said Chirchir.
The death toll in the Sotik accident rose to 15 after two victims died while receiving treatment.
Bomet County Police Commander Edward Imbwaga said seven casualties were reported at Kaplong Hospital. Another seven are admitted in a hospital in Kapkatet.
Governor Barchok and Sotik MP asked the Ministry of Roads to consider expanding the Kericho-Sotik Highway.
The governor said the narrow highway was exposing road users to risks, noting that the scene where the accident occurred was a notorious black spot and should have climbing lanes.
