The new Police reforms has seen Traffic Commandant Samuel Kimaru has been stripped of his powers.
Speaking on Citizen Tv on Monday, the Traffic Commandant confirmed this new development.
“My work now is policy formulation, awareness and implementation. I’m also in charge of monitoring government vehicles which include parastatal and school cars. I’ll link traffic police with any agency that needs information regarding them,” Kimaru said.
He said previously traffic police officers reported to the base commander, who reported to regional traffic officer then to him. Traffic officers were deployed to police stations where a traffic section was set up. But this has changed.
The officers now report to OCS and OCPD who report to county commander who then reports to the Deputy Inspector General who is answerable to the Inspector General of Police.
“This is meant to strengthen the enforcement of rules in the traffic department in the counties,” he added.
“Every police station has a traffic section despite the merger. The OCS is now in charge of traffic officers and reports to the OCPD. The OCPDs are now known as sub-county police commanders.”
Kimaru said he has other roles such as ensuring the security of goods in transit to the neighbouring countries and will report to the Deputy Inspector General.
On the increased road carnage, Kimaru blames drivers. He said they need to careful on the roads.
“Drive at appropriate speeds and overtake where allowed,” he said.
The Kenya Traffic Police department has come under much scrutiny after a series of deathly accidents which resulted from negligence and lack of proper law enforcement from the roads monitors.