As the festive season approaches, Kenyans have been urged to be more careful on the roads to avoid more accidents and deaths while drivers have been asked to observe all traffic rules.
While commemorating the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in Machakos County themed “Life is not a Car Part” aimed at increasing public awareness on the burden of Road Traffic Crashes, it was revealed that the number of road accidents in 2019 went up in numbers. The number of fatalities on roads were reported to have increased by 17% from 2699 in 2018 to 3053 this year.
Interior Secretary Karanja Kibicho noted there are countries in the world that have ten times the number of vehicles and much more narrower roads than Kenya has, but they do report as many accidents as we do. He noted that Kenya’s case is attributed to bad manners on the roads and particularly cautioned drivers against drunk driving further saying that the state of roads should not be used as a scapegoat, for the many accidents being witnessed, and called for behavior change among drivers.
According to NTSA chairperson Alice Chesire, the increase in accidents has been largely contributed to by human error, and road unworth vehicles, and though NTSA inspection, the authority is rectifying that.
In remembrance of all those who have been killed and injured on the roads, their families and friends, the commemoration also emphasize the need to initiate and promote efforts to control socio-economic and public health challenges
Kenya National Highway Transport Authority (KeNHA) held a road safety awareness campaign along Mombasa Road with stopovers at General Motors, Gateway mall, Syokimau, Katani, Mlolongo and Machakos, to sensitize the public.
