Impunity: SUV driver park on a cabro-paved footpath within Nairobi’s CBD
Even as Nairobi residents continue to decry agonise over blatant flouting of traffic rules by motorised equipment and machine users on the roads particularly within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), a spectacular display of impunity played out today after a motorist parked on cabro-paved walkway inconveniencing pedestrians and differently enabled people on wheelchairs.
A spot check by The Informer Media Group revealed that motorists, boda boda riders and hand-cart pushers are notorious for flouting the traffic by-laws by parking on undesignated parking slots, obstruction and driving or riding on the wrong side.
However, we established that the registration number belonging to the Toyota Landcruiser KCL 262J in question is not registered with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
It is suspected the fuel guzzler is attached to one of the government institutions.
The residents noted that the situation worsened on weekends and during public holidays, when many people were out shopping, going to church or on a drinking spree.
This is violation of county by-laws, Traffic Act and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) laws.
“This is a normal occurrence especially around Jamia Mosque on Fridays. The Nairobi County has normalised impunity. It is either deliberate failure to enforce the law or those responsible are facilitating the vice deliberately.” Nahashon Kimkamus, a business operator lamented.
Those parking vehicles on walkways are liable to a fine of Sh5,000.
“Driving on or through a pavement or pedestrian walkway leads to a penalty ofSh5,000.” A provision by the Kenya Traffic Act violations and penalties guideline by NTSA read in part.
On the other hand, in the past, the Nairobi County government under governor Johnson Sakaja leadership warned drivers parking on the CBD pavements through its by-laws terming the act as illegal.
“Parking on a pavement is an illegal act,” the Nairobi County Laws read in part.
The law provides that vehicles be parked within the space marked by red or yellow lines or any other mark provided by the county.
On the other hand, pedestrians who willfully obstruct the free passage of vehicles are liable to a fine of Sh500 while the offense of causing obstruction by allowing a vehicle to remain in any position on the road so as to obstruct motorists attracts a Sh,000 fine.
