Motorists are paying millions of shillings daily in fines for non-existent traffic offences in an unprecedented rip-off driven by collusion between police and courts.
The most affected are those who are caught by the speed police.
The traffic law is clear that an offence is only committed if a speed limit is exceeded by more than 20 kph.
If one does 70 kph on a 50-kph stretch or 120 kph on a 100-kph stretch, no offence is committed.
Yet thousands of motorists are charged Sh1,000 for every extra kph above the speed limit.
In Nairobi alone, courts collect as much as Sh1.5 million daily, according to charge sheets seen bySaturday Nation.
Much more is paid in bribes by those avoiding the hefty fines and the bruising court process. The Traffic Act (Section 70) also requires that traffic signs be put up specifying speed limits.
Unbeknownst to many Kenyans, the speed limit on a dual carriage way is fixed at 110 kph, yet the Thika Superhighway has many 100 kph signs.
Traffic police have also been extorting money from private motorists who do not have first aid kits and fire extinguishers yet the law requires that only public service vehicles should have them.
‘NON-EXISTENT OFFENCES’
On Friday, Motorists Association of Kenya safety chairman Paul Kimani said the exorbitant fines encourage corruption.
In court, he said, magistrates take pleas without interrogating the validity of the charge sheet.
i think this case is misplaced to some sort…someone says fire extinguishers are only meant for PSV as if hizo ndo ziko na high risk of fires than personal vehicles…upuzz ukioverspeed NTSA wako na wewe
Hii story ina kaa misleading sana ama ni mimi sielewi… more so this part The traffic law is clear that an offence is only committed if a speed limit is exceeded by more than 20 kph.
If one does 70 kph on a 50-kph stretch or 120 kph on a 100-kph stretch, no offence is committed.
According to the traffic act naona by 5 to 10 kph… is ksh 10,000, by 11 to 20 kph… is ksh 15,000
Mtu atu enlighten hapa pls cz hii December tamaa ya pesa kwa hawa makarao ita kua juu, lazima anunulie familia nguo mpya, awachinjie kuku, school fees january… niku noma