Kenyan Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has warned that police officers who fail to enforce traffic laws will be dismissed from the force, Kenya's The Standard reported Friday (January 4th).

"The inspector general wishes to remind all police officers that failure to enforce traffic laws is one of the major areas targeted for reform in the New Year," Kimaiyo said in a statement. "The effectiveness and civility of traffic law enforcement will be taken as a major indication on those commanders who wish to embrace police reforms and those who have chosen to remain in the past."

Kimaiyo said traffic officers should be on the lookout for citizens speeding, transporting uninsured passengers, causing road obstructions or driving overloaded vehicles. Kimaiyo said that in the case of overloaded vehicles, police officers should also charge the passengers because the law deems them culpable as well.

The warning comes after at least at least 54 people were killed in road accidents since December 31st, including an incident in which 19 people died near Kenya's Molo town on Wednesday (January 2nd) when an overloaded mini-bus carrying at least 28 people rolled off the road into a quarry.