NAIROBI, Kenya- The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has intensified its crackdown on jaywalking, arresting several pedestrians during a joint enforcement operation targeting footbridge violations at the busy Pipeline Transami crossing in Nairobi.
The Monday operation, conducted alongside officers from the National Police Service (NPS), targeted pedestrians crossing the highway at undesignated points despite the availability of a pedestrian footbridge.
Images and videos released by NTSA showed police officers escorting those arrested to a waiting police vehicle before they were processed for arraignment in court.
The enforcement exercise is part of the authority’s ongoing campaign to improve road safety, enforce traffic regulations and reduce the rising number of pedestrian fatalities on Kenyan roads.
“Joint pedestrian enforcement is currently underway at the Pipeline Transami footbridge targeting pedestrians who fail to use the designated crossing and obstruct the free flow of traffic. Those arrested are expected to be arraigned in court,” NTSA said in a statement.
The authority reminded pedestrians that crossing highways outside designated facilities exposes them to serious danger while disrupting the smooth flow of traffic and increasing the likelihood of road crashes.
The latest operation follows a nationwide enforcement campaign launched on July 20, which has seen officers deployed to several accident-prone locations across Nairobi.
Speaking during an earlier phase of the exercise, NTSA Assistant Director Brenda Sawe said approximately 250 pedestrians had already been arrested in Nairobi for failing to use designated footbridges since the crackdown began.
She noted that during one recent operation alone, authorities initially reported arresting 40 offenders before revising the number to 51.
Under the Traffic Act, pedestrians who fail to use designated crossing facilities may be fined between Sh500 and Sh5,000 or prosecuted for obstructing the free movement of traffic.
The enforcement campaign has focused on high-risk locations, including Allsops, Buruburu, Nyayo Stadium and Pipeline, where authorities say many pedestrians continue to cross busy highways despite the presence of footbridges.
According to NTSA, pedestrians remain the country’s most vulnerable road users, accounting for nearly 38 per cent of all road crash fatalities.
The authority maintains that a significant proportion of these deaths could be prevented if pedestrians consistently used footbridges and marked crossing points.
However, the crackdown has reignited debate over the condition and accessibility of pedestrian footbridges in Nairobi.
Many road users have complained that some footbridges have been taken over by hawkers, making them difficult to use. Others cite poor lighting, insecurity, inadequate maintenance and unsanitary conditions as reasons they avoid the structures.
Elderly people, persons with disabilities and traders carrying heavy loads have also raised concerns that some bridges lack ramps or lifts, making them inaccessible.
Despite these concerns, NTSA says it will continue enforcement operations alongside public awareness campaigns aimed at promoting safer road-use habits and reducing preventable pedestrian deaths.
