Alcoblow nabs 53 in Nairobi, Kisumu and Bungoma
By KENNEDY KANGETHE,
The use of Alcoblow has significantly reduced fatal accidents since December last year. Photo/FILE.
NAIROBI, Kenya Feb 22 – Prominent personalities, including lawyers and other top government officials are among 53 people arrested by police on Friday night for drunk-driving in Nairobi, Kisumu and Bungoma.
Traffic Commandant Samuel Kimaru told Capital FM News that 35 of them were arrested in Nairobi, 10 in Kisumu and 8 in Bungoma.
Those arrested in Nairobi were taken to Muthaiga police station where most of them paid cash bails to appear in court on Monday while others are still in custody.
"We are no sparing anyone in enforcing the law, anyone found drinking under the influence of alcohol will have to face the law," Kimaru said.
In Bungoma, patrons were forced to stay in bars while others hired rooms to spend the night for fear of being arrested on learning that there were roadblocks targeting them, according to a police officer involved in the operation.
The government re-introduced breathalyzers in December last year to curb drink-driving following increased fatal accidents in various parts of the country.
Although initially targeting Nairobi and Mombasa, Kimaru said they have acquired more breathalyzers which have been dispatched to various parts of the country where they are already in use.
Motorists arrested have been paying fines of up to Sh20,000, although it can go higher.
Bar owners and alcohol manufacturing firms have protested the use of breathalyzers, saying they are losing business but Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau has insisted that police will not stop using the gadgets which have contributed immensely to the reduction of fatal road accidents since December.
KENNEDY KANGETHE Kennedy is a Bachelor of Arts in Communication graduate from St. Paul's University and has been writing for the Capital FM Business Desk since 2013, Besides business news, he enjoys traveling, public speaking and singing
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