[kictanet] Fwd: UPDATE ON NEW TRAFFIC LAWS FROM YOUR SAMBAU TEAM

Mon Dec 16 12:28:17 EAT 2013

these laws are "very useless" if you've never been caught.

I've, on two occasions, been a victim.

First I was speeding by 2 km/hr (speed limit is 80km/hr) at a distance of
less than 10 metres. The cop using a speed camera hid himself in some bush
on the Naivasha- Nairobi Highway, near Limuru. Mind you, they use private
vehicles to nab "errant" drivers. (Is this legal?)
I did not have the Kshs. 5,000 they needed. In fact the arresting officer,
wanted us to talk. I talked with my mouth, instead of my pocket.
So I was booked to appear in court the following Monday (since it was a
Friday), and left with a cash bond receipt.
On Monday I was at Kibera Law courts, and this is another conduit for
corruption. The watchman at the gate told me he could take me to the
prosecutor and have my case determined before going to the judge. And of
course, I see him as a "sign of good gesture!!!"

I was unable to get to this point. In the court room, the judge gave me two
options, pay Kshs. 5,000 or be a state guest for 10 days. The latter looked
tough ~ my expectant wife, would be so devastated. I knew I was safe
because the govt had my 5,000 Shillings already.
Lo! the cops, in the temporary cell, said they needed one to deposit money
at Kenya Commercial Bank (specifically at the Junction), because the KCB
mtaani agent at the Court hall, was not working. when you are alone, behind
the closed doors, knowing that your money is with the same government that
wants you to make a deposit, you shudder.

After putting some sense to a cop, she ordered our cash be brought to us.
So I was in the cell, with 5,000 shillings the govt wanted from me. I
couldn't understand why they couldn't just take the money and let me go
home.
The cop asked me to talk, again. And this is where I realized, people don't
talk with their mouths ~ I did what I needed to do as the rest of the
people in order to get out.

I did eventually, after sharing the loot. Sharing because, I did divide the
sum into two.

The second incident, I was stopped on Ngong Road, near Prestige Plaza for
driving while on phone ~ this was my undoing. The cop needed another 5,000
Shillings. I had 500 with me. After much negotiations and arguments, he
accepted the 500 Shillings, and parted with the words, "umenikosea sana,
Solomon."

So in short, there are so many loopholes when it comes to observing traffic
laws here.

In Botswana and Zambia, I'm told that if you dare jump the lights, even in
the middle of the night, you may be well prepared for some hard times. I'm
told traffic offence there is taken so heavily such that if you drove at
night in an isolated area, the lights will be functioning - dare break the
regulations.

That's Kenya, Zambia and Botswana....

On 11 December 2013 14:26, Mark Mwangi <mwangy at gmail.com> wrote:

> All the laws are useless if they are not respected. Very little of the
> imagined revenues will end up in govt coffers. Cops are about to enjoy
> christmas properly.
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 1:39 PM, Kivuva <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com>wrote:
>
>> Yes Adam, the law looks good apart from inept police who take advantage
>> of the law to extort motorists.
>>
>> ______________________
>> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya.
>> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>> google ID | Skype ID: lordmwesh
>>
>>
>> On 11 December 2013 09:54, Adam Nelson <adam at varud.com> wrote:
>>
>>>  This all looks pretty good to me aside from the eye test every 3 years
>>> - 5 or 10 years seems more efficient.
>>>
>>> This conversation is obviously outside of the ICT sphere except for the
>>> giant issue which is that quality of life and sclerotic government are the
>>> number one and two impediments to developing an ICT industry in Kenya.
>>>  I've talked to numerous startup people from abroad who have been here for
>>> a while and a number of them are considering decamping to Kigali or
>>> Mauritius where it's safe and clean and doing things like registering your
>>> company is just a matter of paperwork and a one week wait.
>>>
>>> Sorting out the craziness on the roads (especially as it impacts
>>> pedestrians and bicyclists) is one small step towards making Nairobi an ICT
>>> hub.
>>>
>>> -Adam
>>>
>>> --
>>> Kili.io - OpenStack for Africa: kili.io
>>> Musings: twitter.com/varud <https://twitter.com/varud>
>>> About Adam: www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnelson
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 9:53 PM, Lizette Kraft <lfkraft at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>>> From: *Armanda Akiwumi*
>>>> Date: Friday, 6 December 2013
>>>> Subject: Fwd: UPDATE ON NEW TRAFFIC LAWS FROM YOUR SAMBAU TEAM
>>>> To:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Some morhe ridonkulus fines. Really?
>>>>
>>>> Drive safely,
>>>>
>>>> Gin
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>
>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>
>>>> *From:* <gwsnews09 at gmail.com>
>>>> *Date:* 6 December 2013 13:02:53 GMT+3
>>>> *To:* undisclosed-recipients:;
>>>> *Subject:* *UPDATE ON NEW TRAFFIC LAWS FROM YOUR SAMBAU TEAM*
>>>>
>>>> Dear Members and Friends,
>>>>
>>>> The Sambau Team would like to share with your the following important
>>>> information:
>>>>
>>>> Here is a summary of the drastic new traffic rules caused by the
>>>> Amendment of section 12 of Cap 403 of the laws of Kenya. The president
>>>> signed the amendments yesterday meaning they are in operation from today
>>>> and we could all be affected
>>>>
>>>> a. Number plates: When you sell your vehicle, you should surrender the
>>>> number plates to the registrar of motor vehicles and when you fail to renew
>>>> the insurance, remember to surrender the number plates to the registrar
>>>> otherwise you risk being arrested and fined
>>>> b. Overlapping, obstruction, driving on pavement or through a petrol
>>>> station to avoid traffic-You risk a fine of Kshs 100,000 -300,000 or One
>>>> year in jail or BOTH
>>>> c. Over speeding - when you over speed- You risk a fine of Kshs 10,000
>>>> or 3 months imprisonment or both
>>>> d. Careless Driving: Penalty of Ksh 500,000 or 10 years imprisonment or
>>>> both
>>>> e. Careless driving causing death: Life Imprisonment. This is being
>>>> treated like murder.
>>>> f. Driving under influence of alcohol: A fine of Ksh 500, 000 or ten
>>>> years in jail or both.
>>>> g. PSV Operators - Should adhere to the uniforms and badges rules
>>>> h. Motor Cycle operators - ONE PASSENGER only and the passenger and
>>>> rider must be in reflective vests and helmets- otherwise you risk a fine of
>>>> Kshs 10,000 and in default 12 months imprisonment
>>>>
>>>> Other changes as below:
>>>> - Road blocks are to be gazetted prior to being mounted by the police
>>>> · Driving licenses of speed limit violators shall be suspended for not
>>>> less than 3 years if the person has exceeded speed limit by more than 10
>>>> kph and if offence is repeated 3 or more times.
>>>> - all passengers must wear their seatbelts
>>>> · Mandatory eye test every 3 years for licensed drivers. And if you
>>>> fail the test then license is withdrawn.
>>>> · All law enforcement officers (regular police and APs) are now
>>>> effectively mandated to deal with traffic issues with the abolition of the
>>>> Traffic Department under the Kenya Police Service Act.
>>>>
>>>> MOST IMPORTANT: SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH DRIVERS, COLLEAGUES, FAMILY
>>>> & FRIENDS
>>>>
>>>> SAMBAU TEAM
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> for and on behalf of
>>>> *WELFARE SOCIETY*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Sent from iPad Gmail
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Mark Mwangi
>
> markmwangi.me.ke
>
>
>
>
>
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>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
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