Police set to return alcoblow on Kenyan roads ahead of festive season

The National Police Service's (NPS) traffic division will re-introduce alcoblow breathalysers on major highways across the country in an effort to deter drunk driving and rein in road accidents during the upcoming festive season.

Speaking on Thursday during a road safety campaign exercise in Kisumu County, Nairobi Traffic Police Superintendent Erick Kiragu noted that the breathalysers are an effective tool for discouraging Kenyan motorists from engaging in drunk driving.

While noting that thousands of Kenyans lose their lives in road accidents each year, Kiragu stated that police will carry out inspections on both private and public vehicles to ensure that they are compliant with current road regulations.

“We must be ready to save lives on our roads and using alcoblow is one of the ways that will help the police to deal with drunk drivers,” Kiragu is quoted as saying by Capital FM.

“Police often only flag down public vehicles for inspection, but this time round, more flagging will be on private cars to check on their conditions."

Kisumu's National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Manager, Isaac Silali, on his part noted that the State agency will work in tandem with police to ensure that the exercise is successful.

In July 2022, former President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2021 into law outlawing drunk driving.

Motorists found guilty of the offence risk a fine not exceeding Ksh.100,000, a two-year prison term, or both.

A breathalyser estimates the alcohol content in one's blood from a breath sample. 

No driver is allowed to handle a vehicle if they have consumed alcohol in excess of 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood and 107 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine.