Government has been forced to suspend the implementation of the law that bans preaching and hawking in moving public and commercial vehicles, following strong public backlash.
The ban is contained in Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which prohibits causing or permitting a nuisance, including preaching and hawking, in a public or commercial vehicle while it is in motion.
The provision sparked intense debate, particularly among religious leaders and commuters, who argued it infringes on religious expression and evangelism, a common practice in trotros and buses across the country.
Under the L.I., offenders face a fine of between 10 and 50 penalty units, up to eight months imprisonment, or both.
Faced with mounting criticism, government has put the enforcement of that part of the regulation on hold.
It is still unclear whether the suspension will lead to a full review of Regulation 141 or only affect its enforcement. Government has also not announced when the suspension takes effect.
No official statement has been issued yet detailing the reasons for the decision.
Credit: Citifmonline
