Motorists Demand Life Sentence for Man Who Destroyed Road Sign

The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has urged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to appeal against the three-year sentence handed down to a traffic sign vandal.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 20, the associationclaimed that the sentence was too lenientcompared to the crime of vandalising vital signs.
It relayed that vandalising such road furniture is “not just evil but a grave criminal offence” and thus should not be treated as a minor misdemeanour
“A mere 3-year sentence is far too lenient considering that removing road signs directly endangers lives, causes fatal accidents, serious injuries, and leads to massive loss of public resources,” the statement read in part.
“The ODPP should urgently appeal this sentence and push for harsher penalties, including life imprisonment, or at the very least, significantly longer jail terms.”
It further urged the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) to consider adopting alternative materials such as concrete and recycled plastics for road signage and furniture to deter scrap metal dealers from stealing the signs.
“Moreover, any scrap metal dealer found in possession of vandalised road signs should be deregistered and prosecuted. This culprit should stand as a strong warning to would-be thieves that road furniture is not up for grabs,” the statement read.
The statement came hours after KeNHA reported the arrest and eventual sentencing of a suspect for vandalising road infrastructure along the Mau Summit–Nyahururu Highway.
Following tips from members of the public, KeNHA officers,in coordination with the Salgaa base, descended on the man and arrested him while he was vandalising a road sign between Sobea and Westlands.
He was subsequently sentenced to three years and not given the option of paying a fine to serve as a deterrent to others who engage in similar behaviour.
The authority further urged thepublic to report any suspicious activities on highways by visiting the nearest office or calling its toll-free hotline.
”The suspect has since been sentenced and will be jailed for 3 years without an option of a fine. The Authority urges all Kenyans to protect road furniture and report any acts of vandalism to any KeNHA office or the nearest police station,” KeNHA’s statement read in part.