Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua has banned the movement of vehicles carrying school children beyond 6.59 pm within the boundaries of the county with immediate effect.
“No school bus or vehicles ferrying students will be allowed to travel on Machakos roads whether in transit or heading to a Machakos destination after 6.59 pm,” decreed Dr Mutua in a raft of stringent traffic rules he announced Monday at his office. All the new rules take effect immediately, he announced.
The governor ordered that any vehicle found travelling within the county after such time will be impounded, and the adults in it arrested, while the children will be taken to the nearest police station or accommodated in a safe place.
“The bus will not be released to the school until a fine of not less than Ksh 50,000 is paid,” Dr. Mutua said while releasing a raft of rules that will govern traffic in his county.
The governor told those involved in planning school trips to use proper logistics and stick to the law to avoid being caught on the wrong side of rules. The governor also announced the formation of a Special Enforcement Unit to ensure that the new rules are implemented.
Among other new measures to that will not be tolerated in the county roads include vehicles that emit visible smoke whose violation will attract a levy of Ksh 150,000 in addition to the vehicle being stopped and towed.
“Therefore, if on transit, before you enter Machakos county from our neighbouring counties of Nairobi, Makueni, Kitui, Kajiado, Kiambu, Murang’a and Embu ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and not emitting smoke,” warned Dr. Mutua.
Obstruction will also not be tolerated and those violating it will be fined up to Ksh 50,000. For those who enter or block or stop in the middle of the road to pick or drop passengers will attract Ksh 100,000 fine.
For throwing litter from a mobile or stationary vehicle will earn the offender Ksh 15, 000. “If it is not clear which passenger committed the crime (sic), the vehicle and all passengers will be held until they all raise a combined Sh. 50,000 fine,” he added.
The governor also warned drivers of lorries with “broken centre bolt” that they will not be allowed in the county roads and the those caught will be fined Ksh 200,000 and held until they are repaired. Vehicles, and motor cycles that have lights that are not functioning will be fined Ksh 20,000 each.
Dr Mutua, who was flanked by his deputy Francis Maliti, Roads CEC Morris Aluanga, his Decentralised Units counterpart Matiku Kavila said the new rules are meant to “ensure safety of his people and also create the right environment for speedy development. He said they are “an initial step towards bringing sanity and saving lives and injuries, general.”
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The governor’s announcement comes in the wake of a nasty road accident in neighbouring Kitui County where 10 school children perished over the weekend after their bus collided with a lorry late in the night.
This info-graphic illustrates the rules and fines:
