Michuki Rules Are Back, But Will They Make Any Difference?

The government has announced the return of the then tough traffic rules famously known as the Michuki Rules in an attempt to restore sanity on Kenyan roads.

The announcement of the return of Michuki Rules comes at a time the country has been experiencing an upsurge in road accidents with most of them largely blamed on flouting of traffic rules and corrupt traffic police officers.

The most recent accident happened at Fort Ternan in Kericho where a bus rolled down the cliff, killing 58 out of the 64 people who were on board.

Speaking before a parliamentary committee on Thursday, the Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinet, confirmed that there were no traffic police officers manning roadblocks the night the Fort Ternan accident happened.

The government has now given public service vehicle owners a period of two weeks, to 12th of November 2018 to comply with Michuki Rule’s failure to which there shall be a ‘massive crackdown’ for noncompliance.

“In the recent past, there has been an upsurge in the number of road accidents involving Public Service Vehicles, mainly attributed to lack of observance of the laws governing traffic management,” said the government in a notice.

According to the National Transport and Safety Authority Act of 2013, the Traffic Act Cap. 403 and Legal Notice 161 of 2003 commonly known as ‘Michuki Rules’, all PSV vehicles, among other provisions, must be fitted with:

1. Speed limiters or governors
2. Safety belts
3. Yellow continuous line

At the same time, all PSV drivers and conductors will be required to:

1. Wear uniforms and PSV badges as prescribed by law
2. Prominently display their photos as prescribed by law

“Therefore, effective Monday, 12th November 2018, any PSV, drivers, SACCOs/transport companies, passengers and other relevant parties that fail to comply with the provisions of the NTSA Act and the Traffic Act will be firmly dealt with,” stated the government.