CJ, AG added to list of VIPs allowed to ride priority cars

Chief Justice David Maraga is among those who have been added to VIPs entitled to privileges and special clearance while on the road.

In a revised statement, Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai has also included the Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, Attorney General Paul Kihara, Finance Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge, Defence PS Torome Saitoti, Foreign Affairs PS Macharia Kamau and Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen.

Maraga had been excluded from the initial list unveiled on Wednesday leading to protests on social platforms. However, his deputy Philemona Mwilu has not been included.

Mutyambai placed VIPs in various categories to indicate the level of priority they should be accorded while travelling by road.

Category 1 had President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, the Cabinet Secretaries for Defence (Raychelle Omamo), Interior and Coordination of National Government (Fred Matiang’i) and Foreign Affairs (Monica Juma) and the Interior Principal Secretary ( Karanja Kibicho).

Those in Category 2 are the Chief of Defence Forces, Service Commanders of Defence Forces, Inspector General of the National Police Service, the Deputy Inspector General – Kenya Police Service and the Deputy Inspector General – Administration Police Service.

Category 3 has the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Speaker of the Senate and the Majority Leader of the National Assembly.

Retired Presidents and the Retired Prime Minister fall in Category 4 while Ambulances and Fire Brigade fall in Category 5.

Mutyambai directed that all other vehicles that have been placed in Category 6 will required authority of officers in charge of traffic in respective regions (Traffic 1) on special cases.

“All other vehicles, including Government vehicles (GK) are expected to follow the normal traffic flow. Any Government vehicle found violating traffic regulations, especially those overlapping, the drivers shall be arrested and charged in accordance to the law,” the IG directed.

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On Thursday, Mutyambai said the directive follows public outcry over persistent inconvenience caused to other motorists by VIP and GK vehicles on public roads and highways.