Police impound vehicles with rooftop carriers in Nairobi, Eldoret hundreds stranded

Police say a ban on using rooftop carriers is aimed at reducing accident associated with overloading. [PHOTO: STANDARD/FILE]

By SILAH KOSKEI

ELDORET, KENYA: Hundreds of passengers travelling to various parts of the country were Saturday forced to cut short their journeys after traffic officers impounded public service vehicles whose drivers defied the law by transporting goods using rooftop carriers.

The agitated passengers who were in 15 public service vehicles accused the officers for delaying them in their travel to reach their varied destinations.

Emmanuel Nyongesa, one of the bus drivers wondered why the officers seizing the vehicles claiming that the ban notice on the use of carriers had not expired.

“When they enforced the night travel ban, the transport cabinet minister gave bus owners up to April 1 to remove carriers on the roof tops of the vehicles, why have they then hampered our service to the people?” Nyongesa posed.

He called on the government to allow them enough time to seek alternative ways of transporting goods without using carriers.

“Most vehicle owners are aware that the ban notice is next month and have been working towards adopting the use of booths on the vehicles,” he added.

Speaking at the Eldoret inspection unit where the passengers waited for the vehicles to be inspected, Uasin Gishu Traffic base commander Humphrey Abai maintained that the officers acted within the law by grounding the vehicles to avert any possible accidents due to overloading.

“The night ban came with requirement to remove carriers because it is believed to be among the cause of accidents if loaded with luggage, most buses tend to lose the stability leading risks of catastrophe,” he said.

He said drivers found with carriers on their vehicles will be forced to take a bond and appear in court for violating the traffic law.

Abai called on passengers to observe traffic laws instead of courting disasters on the roads by boarding vehicles that do not meet the law requirements.

He maintained that the crackdown will continue across the country until sanity is restored and the lives of passengers safeguarded.

The angry passengers blamed the police officers for interrupting with their travel saying they had lost most hours yet they were travelling to distant regions.

Edward Aswani, one of the stranded passengers travelling from Webuye to Nairobi expressed fury over the move by the traffic officers saying he had been delayed from arriving at his work place.

“What will I tell my boss when I fail to reach my workplace on stipulated time, the move by officers will certainly hurt the much hyped need to promote the country’s economy,” he added.

The 15 vehicles were inspected by officers before later being freed to proceed with their journeys.