Mombasa traffic police team up with global initiatives to tackle speeding menace

Traffic Police officers in Mombasa on Thursday conducted a speeding enforcement exercise in Mikindani and Changamwe areas, focusing on the Southern Bypass Highway, an initiative that aimed to raise awareness among drivers and the general public about the dangers of speeding.

The exercise included actual demonstrations in which police officers warned speeding motorists and taught them about the need to drive safely on highways to save lives.

They collaborated with Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiatives for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) and its partners, The Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) and the County Government of Mombasa.

Programme Manager for Road Policing, Marcin Flieger, highlighted the goals and process of the exercise. "Today is the practical work of our training. Yesterday, we trained the police officers on setting up checkpoints and speed enforcement operations. Our colleagues from the Kenya Police learned how to use and maintain speed radar measurement devices. Today, they had the chance to practice that knowledge by setting up speed enforcement checkpoints, measuring vehicle speeds, and safely stopping vehicles to conduct operations for speed offenders."

Programme Manager for Road Policing, Marcin Flieger with The Base Commander in Likoni, Chief Inspector Francis Mwangi during the speed enforcement exercise. Photo: Farhiya Hussein

Flieger also noted that Mombasa is one of 17 cities worldwide selected for a road capacity building programme, including five locations in Africa, five in Latin America, and seven in the Asia-Pacific region. "The selection was based on data and the capacity of the local police and stakeholders involved in road safety," he said.

The BIGRS Enforcement Coordinator, Saeed Saeed emphasized the significance of the exercise. "Many people were surprised today because they are not used to this kind of exercise in Mombasa. They think they will be arrested. Today’s exercise was not about arresting anyone but to show and inform the public and drivers using these roads that they can drive their vehicles and motorcycles in a manner that is safe and legal, and they will arrive safely. But if they do not follow the rules, they should know they can have accidents and get seriously injured."

He added, "For over two years, we have been conducting this training. The MOU was signed in 2022, and training started in November 2022. This partnership aims to bring together ideas from Europe and other regions to improve road safety, similar to Sweden's Vision Zero initiative."

The Base Commander in Likoni, Chief Inspector Francis Mwangi, praised the partnership and the use of new technologies. "In 2011, we were introduced to the Binary Gun Speed Camera, which uses radar technology. Now, they want to improve it by starting to use light or laser technology, which is more accurate and easier to use," Mwangi explained.

He also highlighted the pressing need for these improvements. "By June 26, we had lost 2,227 lives through road crashes, an increase from 2,120 at the same time last year. The most affected group is pedestrians, with 857 out of the 2,227 fatalities," Mwangi stated, adding, “We need to educate all road users, including drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians."

Mwangi appreciated the Mombasa County's partnership and the comprehensive training provided to the officers, which includes first aid lessons and reinforcement of road safety laws. "Today, we had 17 officers participating and they have received certificates. The knowledge gained here will be disseminated to other counties, ensuring broader impact and improved road safety," he said.