To them, traffic rules are mere suggestions, as is the safety of passengers and other road users.

The impunity they drive with is at times, ironically, escorted and protected by police officers who are entrusted with enforcing traffic laws.

For those that the law has caught up with after causing death or injury by reckless driving, a slap on the wrist in the form of fines has been the most grave outcome.

They are the drivers hired by politicians during political rallies or similar events. They have become a law unto themselves as they speed in vehicles overloaded with people and luggage, driving on the wrong side of the road, overlapping and breaking several other traffic laws with abandon.

Speeding convoys and supporters dangerously hanging onto moving vehicles have become an increasingly familiar scene during political rallies across the country.

The sound of an approaching political convoy or official motorcade often sends pedestrians and other motorists scampering for safety.

In the past months, road crashes linked to these motorcades have claimed lives and left dozens injured, raising questions about accountability.

And as political activities intensify ahead of next year’s General Election, concerns continue to mount over the conduct of those in the convoys and the safety of both supporters and other road users.

The menace has caught the attention of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), with the agency issuing a warning to those violating traffic rules during political rallies.

“NTSA has noted with great concern that motorists in political convoys are exhibiting high levels of lawlessness, speeding and breaking all basic road safety rules, endangering not only their lives, but also those of other road users. Those found violating traffic rules risk losing their licences among other sanctions,” warned NTSA Director-General Nashon Kondiwa.

“All road users, including politicians and their convoys, must follow standard traffic laws without exception. The dangerous behaviour of supporters of politicians hanging onto moving vehicles must stop. Convoys should obey national speed limits, and drivers engaging in dangerous manoeuvres face prosecution,” he added.

The National Police Service said that no one is above the law, emphasising that speeding, reckless driving and obstruction by political convoys are illegal.

“I urge motorists and all road users to exercise extreme caution and adhere to traffic rules to prevent avoidable accidents. As we get closer to elections, motorists in political convoys must exercise extreme caution on the roads to avoid accidents,” stated Police Spokesperson Michael Muchiri Nyaga.

Recent accidents involving speeding political and official convoys have sparked intense public criticism over reckless driving and impunity.

On March 13, 2025, a vehicle in President William Ruto’s motorcade hit and killed British national Edgar Riches as he crossed Ngong Road in Nairobi. The president was on a development tour of Nairobi.

The 79-year-old, who was walking to a Mosque for prayers, was knocked down at a designated pedestrian crossing near Adams Arcade. He suffered head and chest injuries.

The accident sparked public outrage after vehicles in the convoy, including an ambulance, failed to stop to assist the victim. Two days later, police arrested the driver of the killer Toyota Prado, which, it emerged, was attached to the Ministry of Interior. He was arraigned in court and was fined Sh100,000 after pleading guilty to reckless driving.

A United Kingdom coroner’s investigation found that Riches was lawfully crossing the road when the government vehicle hit him.

“The death of Edgar Riches could have been avoided. The driver sped off and followed the highly speeding motorcade even after knocking him down,” revealed Dorset Senior Coroner Brendan Allen.

Riches, a retired bank manager who was at the time a charity worker, hailed from Dorset in the UK, and was visiting relatives in Kenya.

On March 8 this year, three people were killed and several injured after a vehicle in the security convoy of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale collided with a 14-seater matatu and a tuk-tuk at Otonglo area on the Kisumu-Busia highway. One person was declared dead on arrival at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, while two others succumbed to their injuries while being treated.

Read: Duale convoy crash: KMTC student, money lender among those killed

At the time of the accident, the CS, who had attended a presidential function in Siaya County, was reportedly heading to Kisumu International Airport to catch a flight to Nairobi. Witnesses alleged that speeding contributed to the crash.

In yet another incident on July 3, a Linda Mwananchi supporter died after he fell off a moving vehicle when their convoy was attacked by goons on the Kisii-Keroka road.

Vincent Osiemo, popularly known as Mapinduzi, was rushed to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses said Osiemo was travelling in the Linda Mwananchi convoy when it was ambushed by a group of youths armed with clubs and stones at Keumbu market as the politicians made their way towards Keroka town. It is during the chaos that Osiemo was said to have fallen from one of the vehicles.

On July 5, a speeding escort vehicle in President Ruto’s convoy collided with a lorry at Mutunduri area on the Embu-Meru Highway. Several people were injured during the accident.

President Ruto was headed to a church service in Embu County when the accident occurred. According to witnesses, the vehicle was moving at high speed before the collision occurred.

Read: Boy hit by car in Ruto convoy dies at Busia hospital

In the latest incident last Saturday, a speeding Toyota Prado linked to a Linda Mwananchi politician rolled along the Sibanga-Kitale road in Trans Nzoia County, leaving several people injured.

Some of the injured were individuals who were hanging onto the speeding vehicle, which rolled after the driver lost control.

Footage that circulated widely on social media showed the vehicle veering off the road and rolling. Witnesses blamed speeding for the crash, revealing that at least four supporters had been clinging dangerously onto the vehicle’s sides before the crash.

The Nation has learnt that three of the victims of the accident suffered serious injuries.

Politicians in the Linda Mwananchi convoy, travelling in separate vehicles, escaped the chaos unhurt and continued with the day’s activities.

Read: Three in William Ruto’s convoy die in crash

The accident drew sharp criticism from Kenyans who condemned the practice of supporters of politicians clinging onto speeding vehicles.

“Kenyans need to stop endangering their lives by clinging onto speeding political convoys. It is a deadly affair,” warned David Kuria, a resident of Nakuru.

Authorities now face growing pressure to hold reckless drivers in political and official motorcades accountable for their actions on the roads.

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EMatara@ke.nationmedia.com