Vigilance House withdraws alcoblow gadgets from Sub-County Police Commanders

A memo from Vigilance House has revealed that there will no longer be alcoblow road blocks across the country.

The memo sent to Sub-County Police Commanders (SCPCs) asked the police bosses to ensure all breathalyzer kits had been returned to the traffic OC at the headquarters.

"Good Morning SCPSs. Please note that even as we await written instructions, from today going forward there will be no alcohol blow checks in the country until further notice.

A past alcoblow crackdown. Vigilance House withdraws alcoblow gadgets from Sub-County Police Commanders ece-auto-gen

"This being the case all the Alcohol Blow gadgets will be handed over in writing to OC traffic on Monday 18/11/19 on or before 1000 hours without fail," the memo issued last week read in part.

Nairobians noticed the missing alcoblow checks last weekend, an anomaly that was discussed in various social media groups where motorists send alerts to inform each other of the roadblocks.

Alcoblow court case

The breathalyzers have been a point of contention with a case filed back in 2017 over the legality of its use on Kenyan roads.

The Court of Appeal at the time found that the use of the alcoblow kits was against the laws of Kenya, ruling in favour of two bar owners who had taken the case to court.

In December 2018, the then Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet ordered the set up of alcoblow roadblocks during the day in a bid to decrease the number of road accidents happening over the festive season.