Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged Kenyans to adhere to traffic rules, attributing the rising number of crashes to recklessness.
Addressing worshipers on Sunday, at AIC Milimani in Nairobi, Murkomen said the government, through relevant agencies would roll out stringent measures to tame road carnage.
“Many of the road accidents happening in the country are a result of outright recklessness,” said Murkomen.
Despite the destruction of road infrastructure by floods, fear of road crashes could worsen, the CS insisted on installation of foot bridge in many parts of the city including Mathare, Mukuru and Kibera.
“We are installing foot bridges in many parts of the city including Mathare, Mukuru and Kibera,” he said.
However, the CS said that pedestrians especially those in big cities were to bear the biggest brunt of road deaths.
“Pedestrians, especially in the big cities, continue to bear the biggest brunt of road deaths and this must stop,” he remarked.
He also assured Kenyans that as a ministry, they are doing everything possible to ensure the roads are safe for Kenyans including installation of speed cameras, getting NTSA to crack down on unroadworthy vehicles and irresponsible motorists.
Also Read: 3,541 People Have Died In Road Accidents From January
CS Kipchumba Murkomen On Road Accidents
CS Murkomen added that the ministry was looking forward to even privatize motor vehicle inspection.
“As a Ministry we are doing everything possible, including the privatization of motor vehicle inspection, installation of speed cameras and getting NTSA to crack down on unroadworthy vehicles and irresponsible motorists” Murkomen stated.
In addition, he explained that the ministry was going after rogue drivers to reduce road accidents. “We are reining in errant drivers,” he added.
In October 2023, NTSA unveiled the National Road Safety Action Plan (2023-2027) which aims to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in severe injuries and deaths.
He also called out citizens to be responsible and give the government easy time to restore roads and bridges countrywide.
“With collective responsibility, this can be controlled as the Government begins restoration of roads and bridges countrywide,” CS Murkomen concluded.
Also Read: NTSA Clarifies on Private Information You Can Access in Number Plate Search
Report On Road Traffic Deaths
Road safety remains a critical issue globally, with the World Health Organization estimating over 1.35 million deaths annually due to road traffic accidents.
The report also stated that road traffic accident had fallen slightly and the efforts to improve road safety had a positive impact and that significant reductions in road traffic deaths could be made if proven measures are applied.
Furthermore, road traffic injuries remain the leading killer of children and young people aged 5-29 years with more than half of the fatalities occurring among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
“More than half of fatalities occur among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, in particular those living in low and middle-income countries,” the report read.
It adds, “Urgent action is needed if the global goal of at least halving road traffic deaths and injuries by the year 2030 is to be achieved.”
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
