Police Launch Hunt for Kibra MP Peter Orero’s Driver

The Kenyan police have launched an investigation into the driver of Kibra Member of Parliament Peter orero, after a viral video showed the MP driving his car to the wrong side of the road and blocking other cars in the traffic. The incident that has received the attention of many kenyans has rekindled the argument of impunity among a section of the public officials who violate traffic laws seemingly without any concern for responsibility.

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The video was captured by CNN journalist Larry Madowo and it depicts MP Orero’s vehicle forcing its way through oncoming traffic in Nairobi. When Madowo took a picture with his phone, Orero seemingly did not seem bothered and purportedly gave his chauffeur instruction to go through the traffic. He allegedly told the journalist to bring the video to President William Ruto in a confrontational manner which meant that he was above reprisal or untouchable.

The National Police Service (NPS) has since denounced the act and cautioned that no one, irrespective of his or her political status or social status can escape obedience to the traffic legislations. Police spokesman Michael Muchiri again insisted that only few vehicles are lawfully allowed to impede or run over traffic.

The traffic may only be blocked by emergency response vehicles like ambulances and fire engines, motorcades of the President and Deputy President, and on some occasions, military vehicles, Muchiri explained. He has pointed out that the use of the office or any perceived privilege to explain such misconduct is against the law and is unacceptable.

These sentiments were also echoed by the Traffic Police Commandant Fredrick Ochieng who has confirmed that an investigation is being done on the incident. He added that the police will profile and interrogate the involved driver and then take the necessary legal course i.e. take legal action against them.

In case we get the complete video clip, we would trace the vehicle registration number. Identified, the driver will be called to be interrogated and action taken as mandated by law, as explained by Ochieng.

Ochieng also uncovered that cases of such cases of misuse of special or diplomatic vehicle plates have been subject to police investigation. We have recently received a vehicle that was equipped with a diplomatic number plate, but which was not registered as a diplomatic vehicle. That case is under investigation, still, he said, making parallel to the Orero incident.

The 26-second video showing the fight between MP Orero, the driver and Madowo has elicited a serious online resentment. A large number of Kenyans resorted to social media to complain about what they termed as power misuse and ignorance in regard to regular road users.

Among those who expressed disappointment were former students of Orero who served as a teacher and then joined politics. They said his behaviour was not befitting of a public servant and government should do something strong to establish a precedence against such behaviour.

The video has also sparked wider debates regarding the culture of impunity with respect to some members of the society occupying offices in high positions as well as their assistants who at times disregard the traffic laws in the name of being important or creating urgency. There has been a plea by both activists and citizens to see the National Police Service make sure that the case is not just an empty rhetoric but rather results in tangible disciplinary action.

The NPS has been reaffirming its intentions to enforce traffic laws equally to all citizens as investigations are done. No one above the law, Muchiri repeated, such cases destroy the public confidence in leadership and justice system, Muchiri emphasized.

The driver of the MP, Orero, is also another wake-up call on how frustrated Kenyans have become with the lawlessness in the streets and how it is time to instill back some discipline and respect of the traffic laws in all motorists irrespective of their position.