The arrests were made on Tuesday, November 10, during a multi-agency traffic enforcement operation targeting drivers and riders violating road safety regulations.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), those arrested were linked to various offences, including drunk driving, operating unroadworthy vehicles and riding or driving without valid insurance and licences.
The operation comes amid growing concerns over fatalities along the highway, with at least 45 people reportedly losing their lives in road accidents within the past month.
One of the latest tragedies occurred on November 8 at Kiunduani in Makindu, where four people died after two trucks travelling in opposite directions collided head-on and burst into flames.
Another devastating accident was reported on October 25 near Kanga, beyond Mtito Andei, when a bus collided head-on with a lorry, leaving at least 22 people dead and several others injured.
The latest arrests follow instructions issued by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on November 7, directing officers to step up traffic enforcement and remove defective vehicles from Kenyan roads.
Kanja warned that increased movement of people and commercial activities towards the end of the year could expose road users to greater dangers if traffic regulations were ignored.
He directed officers to deal firmly with drunkenness, speeding, reckless driving and the use of unroadworthy motor vehicles and motorcycles.
Following the directive, security officers have expanded road safety operations across Kitui, Makueni and Mombasa counties in collaboration with other stakeholders.
The police have also urged motorists to inspect their vehicles, obtain valid insurance and ensure they possess the required driving licences before travelling.
Members of the public have been encouraged to report dangerous driving and other traffic violations to the nearest police station.
The NPS further reminded Kenyans that emergency assistance can be requested through toll-free numbers 999 and 911 as authorities seek to prevent further loss of lives on the country's roads.
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/129294-police-launch-traffic-crackdown-arrest-over-20-motorists-along-nairobi-mombasa-road
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