The government of Kenya is aggressively tackling the national crisis of deadly road accidents with a multi-pronged approach led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki. The strategy prioritizes strict enforcement of traffic laws outlined in the Traffic Act, recognizing traffic accidents as a national catastrophe. Alarming statistics reveal 4,650 fatalities in 2022, dropping slightly to 3,900 in 2023, with the first two months of 2024 witnessing 1,926 crashes and 763 deaths. The Kenya Police Traffic Department, in collaboration with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), has launched planned and impromptu operations resulting in the arrest and prosecution of 22,958 drivers, generating Sh300 Million in fines and forfeitures.
Major concerns include drunk driving, with 1,086 arrests, and motorcycle-related accidents, resulting in 255 deaths and the apprehension of 5,590 motorcyclists. The government is adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal public service vehicles, recently conducting a nationwide operation that caught over 500 operators running unlicensed vehicles. Future strategies involve retesting drivers, utilizing digital media for road safety campaigns, addressing road design flaws, and installing various road safety measures like signage, footbridges, speed cameras, and rumble strips. Moreover, the government is cracking down on corruption on the roads, declaring it a national security threat and imposing severe penalties on both corrupt traffic police officers and motorists attempting to bribe their way out of trouble. These comprehensive measures aim to significantly improve road safety in Kenya and reduce the devastating number of traffic accidents.
