Nairobi Tops In Road Fatalities As Murkomen Orders Crackdown

A report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has named Nairobi as the most lethal county to drive in Kenya.

The report released on Monday, April 3 revealed that Nairobi recorded the highest number of fatalities at 101 deaths, many of which occurred along the Eastern bypass and Outering road.

Nakuru was second with 93 deaths within the same period. Motorcycles and private vehicles contributed to the highest number of fatalities between January and March 2023 at 284 and 272 deaths respectively.

The report further indicated that Machakos County had the highest number of driver fatalities with many of the accidents occurring along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.

Nakuru and Meru Counties had the highest number of motorcyclist and pillion passenger fatalities (at 33 and 30 deaths respectively) while Nairobi and Kiambu counties had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities (at 56 and 45 deaths respectively) during the same period.

Speaking during the inauguration of the new Board of the NTSA, Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen stated that there was an urgent need to address the rampant cases of road accidents that have so far led to the loss of 1,072 lives between January and March 2023.

“According to the latest report, of the 1,072 people killed on our roads, 362 are pedestrians, 302 are motorcyclists, 184 are passengers, 101 are pillion passengers, 104 are drivers while 19 are pedal cyclists. The number of passenger deaths is attributed to speeding vehicles, crossing at undesignated places, distracted driving or walking and drunk driving,” he stated.

Murkomen further directed NTSA to heighten surveillance to ensure unroadworthy vehicles are not allowed on Kenya's roads.

"I also called on both motorists and pedestrians to take the requisite precaution when using the roads, especially during this Easter period.

“Drivers should avoid using their phones while driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and driving without, or carrying passengers who are not, wearing safety belts. Besides this, I wish to urge passengers to observe traffic rules by stopping at green lights and avoid crossing the road in non-designated and unsafe areas,” stated the CS.

Saturday and Sunday emerged as the worst days in the number of road accident deaths at 192 and 184 respectively, with a combination of Friday, Saturday and Sunday accounting for 48.4 per cent of fatal accidents.

Most of the accidents were reported to occur between 5.00 pm and 11.00 pm, the peak being 8.00 pm, with the majority attributed to high travel numbers, speeding especially along major highways, and reduced enforcement.

In terms of gender, the majority of those who died from road accidents are men at 83 per cent, attributed to risky behaviour on the roads, and distracted driving/walking/riding.

CS Murkomen further noted that the Ministry was in the final stages of developing a Driving School Management and Licensing Module that would ensure only competent and qualified drivers are allowed on the roads.

“The module is meant to eliminate cases of irregular acquisition of driving licenses that have seen self-trained drivers acquire driving licenses without going through the requisite training and tests,” he said.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchuma Murkomen during a press conference at NTSA offices on Monday, April 3, 2023. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN

This is in addition to the ongoing plans by the Ministry to deploy an Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) that would see the installation of CCTV cameras in 81 junctions in Nairobi, installation of traffic and speed cameras along the highways - especially black spots, and operationalization of a transport data centre and road transport dashboard.

This will assist in curbing reckless driving by introducing instant fines and a demerit point system for ‘ill-behaved’ motorists. He further noted that: “to expand the inspection of vehicles, the Government is working on a module that would bring on board the private sector to reduce delays at existing inspection centres.”