Police officers across the country are expected to mount roadblocks from today in various parts of the country to impose the mandatory breathalyser tests.
This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law the Traffic (Amendment) Bill by Tiaty MP William Kamket, an improvement to the parent law following a directive by the Court of Appeal in 2017, and set July 11, 2022, as its commencement date.
The signing into law by the President brings to an end the five-year freedom of drunken motorists driving home after a night of merry-making without having to worry.
The Court of Appeal declared using breathalysers on Kenyan roads illegal.
This requires that no driver should handle a motor vehicle if he or she has consumed alcohol in excess of 35 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, and 107 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine.
Those found drunk-driving risk a fine not exceeding Sh100, 000 or a jail term of not more than two years or both.
The Alcoblow has been in force for over three years following its introduction in 2014.
The proposal to repeal section 70 (5B) of the Traffic Act to cure misinterpretation that has often seen the violators of speed limits let off the hook, however, failed.
However, a person who violates a speed limit prescribed for a road by more than 20 Km/h commits an offense and shall be liable on conviction, to imprisonment for a term of not less than three months, or a fine of not less than Sh20, 000 or both.
The driving licence of a person convicted for the violation of a speed limit shall be invalidated for a period not less than three years if the violation of the limit is by more than 20/km/h and the violation is repeated three or more different times.