Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning to drivers contemplating crossing flooded rivers, asserting that the government will cancel their licenses and pursue legal action for attempted suicide.

The move comes in response to the alarming trend of individuals endangering their lives and the lives of passengers by attempting perilous river crossings.

According to Murkomen, President William Ruto has directed all National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) to monitor and enforce the directive, extending the responsibility to County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, chiefs, and assistant chiefs.

The Transport CS emphasized that the new orders apply universally to both public and private vehicles, with no exemptions for those found guilty.

"I want to put our drivers on notice, even after you have crossed the dangerous river, we will still carry out punishment in terms of cancellation of the licenses and you can also be charged for attempted suicide," stated CS Murkomen, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

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Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Murkomen stressed the need for increased police presence in areas prone to flooding.

"We must be conscious in every area where we think the river is flooded. We must deploy police officers around that place to make sure people are stopped from crossing flooded rivers," he asserted.

The Transport CS pointed out that a significant number of the 76 reported fatalities related to floods are predominantly attributed to attempts to cross swollen rivers.

This crackdown on reckless river crossings follows the recent tragedy where seven individuals drowned while crossing River Muooni on their way home from an event at Kasarani Stadium.

The victims had attended First Lady Rachel Ruto's 14th Anniversary of the Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO).

Emergency services, including the Red Cross Society, were promptly deployed to retrieve the bodies, emphasizing the need for preventative measures to avoid further loss of life.

The government's decisive action aims to curb the alarming trend of reckless river crossings, ensuring the safety of drivers, passengers, and the general public.