Tint order is only for public vehicles, High Court

The High Court in Nairobi has ruled that a directive issued by David Kimaiyo against vehicles with tinted windows does not apply to private vehicles.

Justice George Odunga, who presided over the case, ruled that the order to impound vehicles with tinted windows was only applicable to Public Service Vehicles.

The ruling was delivered after a motorist, Akitch Okola moved to court challenging Kimaiyo's illegal order to police asking them to impound all vehicles with tinted windows.

Kimaiyo's ban has been a subject of discussion over the past few days with the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) declaring that Kimaiyo was out of order in issuing the directive. IPOA asked motorists facing harassment from the police to report to its offices.

The Law Society of Kenya also contested the validity of Kimaiyo's ban and offered to defend motorists that may be subjected to harassment or prosecution by police on account of the order.

Kimaiyo is yet to comment on recent developments and the court ruling but has on past occasions insisted that his order applied to private as well as public service vehicles.