Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has announced a national crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles following a spike in the number of road clashes.
This is in response to a rise in the number of accidents in the country. The recent accident involving a Kenyatta University bus claimed the lives of 11 students who were on their way to Mombasa on Monday, March 18.
On the official opening of the Kisumu West Deputy County Commissioner’s Complex, Kindiki directed law enforcement agencies across the Country to immediately develop and implement a Nationwide program for Traffic Law enforcement to stem the devastating tide of deaths and injuries arising from road traffic accidents.
In addition, Kindiki said the crackdown will also target pedestrians who are found to be in contravention of traffic rules.
Also Read: 11 Kenyatta University Students Die in Grisly Road Accident
“The Enforcement Program to be run concurrently by the Traffic Department of the Kenya Police Service (KPS) and the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) will remove unroadworthy vehicles from the roads, apprehend all traffic offenders including drivers, riders and pedestrians, and enforce all traffic laws,” kindiki stated.
Kindiki also vowed to arrest and prosecute corrupt officers. He stated that corrupt officers get bribes allowing unconditioned vehicles to operate hence causing accidents that could be protected.
“Any law enforcement officer engaging in corruption on the roads or elsewhere will be severely punished,” kindiki warned.
While still in the function, Kindiki stated that decentralization of National Administrative and law enforcement services is a critical driver for the maintenance of law and order and creation of a conducive environment for our Country’s socio-economic development.
Recent accident
Kenya has seen an increase of horrific traffic incidents that have left numerous people maimed and with multiple fatalities.
At least eleven people, many of them Kenyatta University students, died in the most recent incident on Monday night when their bus and a trailer collided near Maungu on the Mombasa-Nairobi route.
The students were heading to Mombasa on a trip from Nairobi.
In another accident at least 5 people were on 18th March 2023 killed in a road accident along Olonguruone-Silibwet Road in Bomet County.
The accident involving a matatu and a tractor left 5 dead and 18 more people injured. The 18 injured people have been admitted to Tenwek Mission Hospital.
NTSA statics on accidents
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on February 14, 2024, announced that a total of 3,090 Kenyans had either died or sustained injuries in road accidents from January 1 to February 11.
According to statistics released by the authority, 563 of the victims have succumbed. Additionally, 1,403 have been seriously injured and 1,124 have been slightly injured.
In road-user categories, NTSA said that 216 pedestrians died, 246 got serious injuries and 61 got minor injuries.
Also Read: Impromptu Meeting Convened to Summon Murkomen Over Accidents
In addition, the authority stated that 35 drivers succumbed, 103 were seriously injured and 108 were slightly injured.
109 fatalities were recorded for passengers, 535 were seriously injured and 755 got slight injuries.
Additionally, 140 motorbike riders died, 303 got seriously injured and while 86 sustained small injuries.
