A driver attached to Kibra Member of Parliament Peter Orero has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts following public outrage sparked by a viral video shared by CNN journalist Larry Madowo. The video, which trended widely on social media under the hashtag #TakaTaka, captured the official vehicle belonging to the legislator recklessly driving on the wrong side of the road in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
In the video, Madowo is heard expressing frustration over the blatant disregard for traffic rules as the government-plated car, marked with the words “Taka Taka” (waste collection), maneuvered dangerously through oncoming traffic. The footage quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation from Kenyans online who accused public officials and their drivers of habitual impunity on the roads.
Following the online uproar, Nairobi traffic police launched investigations that led to the identification and arrest of the driver. On Monday morning, he was presented before the Milimani Law Courts where he faced charges of careless driving, obstruction, and driving on the wrong side of the road.
The prosecution told the court that the driver, while operating the MP’s official vehicle, endangered other motorists and pedestrians. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released on cash bail pending further hearing.
In a statement, Kibra MP Peter Orero distanced himself from the incident, saying he was not in the vehicle at the time of the offense. Orero expressed regret over the incident and assured the public that disciplinary measures would be taken against the driver.
The incident has reignited public debate on road discipline among VIP drivers, with many Kenyans calling for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, regardless of the offender’s political or social status.
Larry Madowo, who filmed the incident, has since lauded the swift action by authorities, emphasizing the need for accountability on Kenyan roads. “No one should be above the law,” Madowo wrote on X (formerly Twitter), echoing sentiments shared by many Kenyans fed up with reckless driving by state vehicles.
The case will be mentioned later this month as the court awaits further submissions from both sides.
