Kenyan police arrest 2,000 in road-safety crackdown
Almost 2,000 minibus-taxi drivers and conductors as well as passengers were arrested in Kenya on Monday, authorities said, as police began enforcing long-ignored road safety rules.
The crackdown against the minibus taxis, known as “matatus”, and buses resulted in long queues and traffic-free streets as many drivers stayed at home rather than risk arrest, and owners grounded their fleets.
“Close to 2,000 offenders have been arrested,” police chief Joseph Boinnet told a media conference in Nairobi.
“These include matatu operators, operators of private vehicles and even users of [publicservice vehicles] who had not fastened up,” he said.
Boinnet warned passengers against boarding vehicles that are not compliant with the country’s “Michuki rules”, dating back to 2004 and named after the then transport minister.
The rules require vehicles to be properly insured and have seatbelts for all passengers, and for drivers to be licensed, sober and obeying traffic signs. There are also provisions on uniforms, paintwork and overcrowding.
It was not immediately clear how many people would be charged or detained.
Previous government efforts to enforce road safety rules have been undermined by corruption and a lack of political will. Kenya’s matatus are often painted in bright colours, pumping loud music and with neon lights and large television screens flashing inside. The minibuses are seen as a menace on the roads, speeding, engaging in hair-raising manoeuvres and flouting basic traffic rules.
However, the cheap and fast service they provide is essential for millions of commuters.
Interior minister Fred Matiangi said the government would implement the rules in the interests of road safety, despite the disruption. “I have been told that some operators have decided to withdraw their vehicles. That is fine; they can keep them at home as long as they want to because we are not changing our position,” he said.
Police put up roadblocks across the country to impound vehicles. Most of the arrests were made in Nairobi and other cities and towns.
“What we are doing is a measure aimed at saving lives,” said transport minister James Macharia.
Official statistics show that about 3,000 people die annually in road accidents in Kenya. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates the figure could be as high as 12,000, nearly 50% higher than the world average when calculated as a percentage of population.
In October, at least 50 people were killed when a bus travelling from Nairobi to the western town of Kakamega overturned and its entire roof was ripped off. Barnier, told ministers from the other 27 EU member states that he is waiting for a signal that May has mustered enough votes to get a deal approved by parliament. If there is a breakthrough, a Brexit summit could be called for November 24-25. “It’s such a mess politically in Britain, it’s hard to see at this stage how she can win support for the package,” said one diplomat.
While May has for months faced fierce opposition from Brexit-supporting legislators, who say she has betrayed the referendum result by seeking such close ties with the EU, she is now facing increasing pressure from pro-Europeans too.
ABRUPT DEPARTURE
If a deal is voted down by parliament, the UK will face an uncertain future: leaving abruptly without a deal, the collapse of May’s government, an election, or, as some opponents of Brexit hope, a new referendum.
The EU is not currently working to include any second referendum in its Brexit planning, sources in Brussels said.
Brexiteers say leaving without a deal might be damaging in the short term but that in the longer term it will be better than signing up to obey rules from the EU for decades.