The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has called for a review of the 50km/h speed limits imposed on sections of the country’s major highways, arguing that the restrictions are inconsistent with the design and purpose of modern high-capacity roads.
In a statement on July 2, the association said motorists frequently encounter abrupt speed-limit reductions on roads built to accommodate higher-speed travel.
According to the Motorists Association, safe speed management should be guided by transparent engineering principles, road design, surrounding land use and internationally accepted traffic management practices rather than punitive enforcement.
“Speed limits should promote safety through predictability and consistency rather than create confusion among compliant drivers,” the statement said.
The association argued that modern expressways are designed to separate high-speed traffic from pedestrians through grade-separated crossings, underpasses, overpasses and controlled access, allowing for more consistent speed management because conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians are significantly reduced.
MAK urged the government to continue investing in engineering solutions that improve road safety by reducing conflicts among road users.
Also Read: Government Orders WhatsApp to Halt Username Rollout Immediately, Sets Deadline for Meta
Opposition to Mandatory Private Vehicle Inspections
The Motorists Association also reaffirmed its opposition to the proposed expansion of mandatory vehicle inspections to privately owned motor vehicles, arguing that the proposal is neither evidence-based nor proportionate.
The association said the measure would unnecessarily infringe on the liberties, privacy and dignity of law-abiding motorists.
According to the association, there is no publicly available statistical evidence demonstrating that privately owned vehicles constitute a category requiring mandatory periodic inspections.
It argued that while millions of private vehicle journeys are completed safely every day, crashes are more commonly associated with driver behavior, road design, enforcement practices, infrastructure deficiencies and commercial transport operations than with hidden mechanical defects in private vehicles.
The Motorists Association also raised concerns about the proposed increase in inspection fees for commercial vehicles, arguing that road safety should never be used to justify imposing financial burdens unrelated to measurable safety improvements.
It said any increase in regulatory costs should be transparently justified and accompanied by demonstrable improvements in the quality, integrity and efficiency of the inspection process.
Also Read: Govt Publishes 2026 List of Licensed Doctors, Hospitals and Ambulance Providers
Motorists Association Call for Evidence-Based Road Safety Policies
The Motorists Association said the current vehicle inspection regime has attracted criticism over inconsistency, subjectivity, delays and corruption, adding that regulators should first strengthen the integrity of the system before expanding its scope.
The association urged authorities to address governance failures, eliminate opportunities for corruption, improve accountability and modernize inspection procedures before introducing broader enforcement powers.
The association called on the Government, Parliament, the Judiciary, professional bodies, road engineers, transport experts and other stakeholders to ensure that road safety policies are founded on evidence, transparency, constitutional rights and sound engineering principles.
It said road safety cannot be achieved through regulatory expansion alone but requires competent institutions, accountable enforcement, well-designed infrastructure and policies that inspire public confidence.
The Motorists Association added that it will continue to defend the constitutional rights, dignity, privacy and legitimate interests of private motorists while supporting genuine, evidence-based measures to improve safety for all road users.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
