Milimani Court Fines Careless Driver Ksh 175k or 22 Months in Jail Over Fatal Accident

A court in Nairobi has fined a driver Ksh 175,000 in default to serve 22 months in prison after pleading guilty to the offences of causing death by careless driving.

While delivering the sentence, Milimani Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai stated that the offences were grave, leaving two people dead and another seriously injured,

“Though the court has considered the mitigation by the accused, there is also a need to consider the lives that were lost during the incident and serve justice accordingly,” the Magistrate stated.

Elly Lewis Otieno faced two counts of causing deaths by dangerous driving contrary to Section 46 of the Traffic Act, Cap 403, laws of Kenya, driving without due care and attention and driving without a valid driving licence.

He was charged that, on December 24, 2025, at about 2130 hours along Northern Bypass Road, Kahawa West in Kasarani Sub-county within Nairobi County, while driving a vehicle registration number KBS 680P, Toyota Isis drove in a manner that was dangerous to the public and other road users.

The court heard that he overtook other motor vehicles and collided with a motor vehicle registration number KDE 564P, as a result, injuring Annastacia Wangari and Debby Wairimu, who died on the spot, leaving Charles Ngunjiri, the driver, with serious injuries.

He was further charged with the offence of driving the said vehicle without a valid driving licence.

In the two counts of causing deaths, he was ordered to pay Ksh 150,000 in default to serve 18 months in prison. In the count of driving without due care, he was ordered to pay Ksh 15,000 in default to serve three months in prison, and driving without a valid driving licence, he was fined 10,000 or one month imprisonment.

In conclusion, the magistrate said, “If dissatisfied with the sentence, you have 14 days’ right of appeal.’