Say no to bribes — CJ Koome says as Judiciary rolls out mobile traffic courts for festive safety

Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged Kenyans not to pay bribes if arrested for traffic offences, saying authorities will closely monitor human rights violations as part of heightened enforcement during the festive season.

“Do not pay any bribe when arrested. There will be monitoring of human rights violations,” Koome said, as she announced a multi-agency strategy to curb road carnage and enforce traffic laws.

Speaking on Monday after a meeting, the Chief Justice warned that risky road behaviour, particularly speeding, tends to increase during holiday travel.

“We note the risky road behaviour which includes speeding, and we were asking one another if, when going for celebrations during this season, we forget that where we are going, whether it is to celebrate in our rural homes or wherever those destinations do not move, so that we speed away,” she said.

Koome called for collaboration across the justice system and among road users, saying public awareness and coordinated enforcement were critical to saving lives.

“We are asking for collaboration and awareness about our own safety when we set out for the festivities,” she said. “For seamless coordination, we need to work together—all of us in the justice system.”

She said the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) recognises that no single institution can address road carnage on its own.

“As the NCAJ, while addressing road carnage, we realise that we cannot discharge this responsibility alone. There is no one agency that can succeed. We must come together, including Kenyans,” Koome said.

The Chief Justice said authorities will roll out diverse measures to enhance road safety and prevent traffic-related deaths, noting that many victims are often innocent pedestrians or motorists.

“We must put in place elaborate and diverse measures to enhance road safety and prevent traffic-related deaths,” she said. “Most of the time, people are innocent, either as pedestrians or drivers and someone else causes the accident.”

Koome announced that mobile traffic courts will be deployed using both physical and digital platforms to fast-track traffic cases during the festive period.

“We will deploy mobile traffic courts using physical and digital means, with close collaboration. We will share this so that those who are charged can quickly get in touch with their lawyers,” she said.

She said the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with multiple agencies, including the National Police Service (NPS), the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Kenya Prisons Service, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

In addition, Koome said enforcement agencies will increase strategic roadblocks for vehicle and motorcycle inspections, particularly along high-risk corridors across the country.

Motorists were warned against overlapping and drunk driving, while Kenyans were urged to observe traffic rules to avert injuries, loss of life, and congestion during the busy holiday season.

Members of the public were encouraged to report traffic violations and emergencies through the toll-free numbers 999, 911 or 112.

Koome said joint enforcement, visibility, and public cooperation would be prioritised nationwide to ensure safer travel during the festive period.