A member of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Tuesday accused drivers of Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles, which are often used by government officials and the rich, of speeding and flouting traffic regulations, questioning whether they are above the law.
Speaking during a session, Arkangelo Kanayo, an SPLM-IO legislator who represents Western Equatoria State, challenged the selective enforcement of traffic rules, suggesting they appear to target only truck drivers, water tankers, and boda boda riders.
“My question is, is a V8 [Land Cruiser] above the law? If it is not, then what is going on? Because the way I’m seeing it is like the law in this country is only made for the poor,” he charged.
The lawmaker alleged that in Juba, traffic police routinely allow Land Cruisers to move without restriction, while other vehicles are frequently stopped, highlighting what he described as bias against ordinary motorists.
“What I have seen is as if the law in this country has just been made for the poor and weak people and not the strong men and women, because you can see people suffering on the road,” Kanayo stated.
The lawmaker said that when a Land Cruiser V8 hits another car, instead of apologizing, the driver calls for a military pickup truck with soldiers for reinforcement.
“These V8s move anyhow, and if they hit any car or motorcycle on the road, the driver or the owner of the V8 will come down and charge that person or call for takshar (military pickup),” he said. “My question is, is a V8 above the law? If it is not, what is happening?”
Kanayo urged parliament to question the Inspector General of Police why the law is only applied to one segment of road users while Land Cruiser V8 drivers are exempted from the law.
Responding to the legislator’s concern, TNLA Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba Jokingly asked MPs who drive V8s why they do not respect traffic laws. She, however, said the law is made and applied to all citizens, including government officials.
“Why are those of you driving V8s not respecting the law? This is information to do with the traffic and the law enforcement agents,” she said. “There is no one above the law.”
The speaker also clarified that V8s are not only driven by politicians but also by businesspeople and some individuals who have money. She called on those possessing such vehicles to respect the law.