Two men have been fined Ksh1 million each by the Nakuru Chief Magistrate’s court after they pleaded guilty to unlawfully removing a road bump sign along the Nakuru–Kabarak Road.
The road sign, which was near Kabarak University in Rongai Sub-County, Nakuru County, was considered essential road infrastructure meant to protect both motorists and pedestrians.
If the two fail to pay the fine, they will each serve one and a half years in prison.The court found them guilty of Destruction of Infrastructure, which is against Section 24(1) and Section 24(2) of the Scrap Metal Act No. 1 of 2015.
The law was created to stop people from stealing or damaging public property, especially infrastructure like road signs and metal installations that are expensive to replace.
The court said that their actions put many road users in serious danger, especially because such signs help drivers know where to slow down or stop, preventing accidents in busy areas.
Reacting to the ruling, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) welcomed the decision, saying it is a strong warning to others who may be tempted to destroy or steal public infrastructure.
In a statement, KeNHA said that such criminal acts risk the lives of road users and must not be taken lightly. The Authority reminded Kenyans that road furniture like bump signs, speed warnings, and direction boards are not decorations but tools that ensure safety.
KeNHA encouraged citizens to report anyone seen tampering with road infrastructure. The Authority added that Kenyans should not just be passive observers but take an active role in protecting national resources.
They also provided a toll-free line for the public to report vandalism cases on the highways.
This ruling is one of the strongest penalties under the Scrap Metal Act since it became law in 2015.
Over the years, the government has been losing billions of shillings due to theft and damage of public infrastructure.
Items like metal guardrails, streetlights, and sign boards are often targeted by people looking to sell them to scrap metal dealers. As a result, the law was introduced to stop this habit and make sure those caught are severely punished.
Removing a road sign might seem small to some, but it can lead to deadly consequences. In areas with a lot of movement, like near schools and universities, students and other pedestrians depend on clear road signs for safety.
When these signs are removed, drivers may fail to slow down or stop in time, leading to possible accidents.
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