The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) revealed that 1,108 Kenyans have died in road accidents between January and April 1, 2024.
Speaking on April 4, NTSA Director General George Njao said speeding and drunk driving were the leading causes of accidents in the country.
“If you look at most of the accidents that have occurred, for example in Nairobi County and the urban areas, the National Police can attest that they can happen at night. They are usually related to speed and alcohol that we are trying to address.
According to the statistics, 1,189 fatalities have been reported in 2024 compared to 1,129 during the same period last year.
Besides, 2,693 have been slightly injured in 2024, a 56% increase on the 1,726 recorded in the first three months of 2023.
“Along the highways we have matters related to fatigue where drivers are operating beyond the required number of hours, “he added.
Pedestrians lead in the number of fatalities with 436 followed by passengers at 255.
They topped the statistics in 2023 as well with 374 and 211 respectively.
Additionally, there has been a decrease in the number of motorcyclists of fatalities from 311 in 2023 to 276 in 2024 over the same period.
The other fatalities are as follows: pillion passengers (102), driver (98) and pedal cyclist (22).
The number of dead drivers and pillion cases decreased from 108 and 105 respectively recorded the previous year.
Njao was speaking at Kasarani police in Nairobi during a road clinic for public service vehicles.
NTSA Road Safety Status 2023
NTSA Road Safety Status report 2023 revealed that 2,080 fatalities were recorded in 2023/2024 as compared to 2,378 registered during the same period in the previous year.
The Authority said 10,115 serious and slight injuries were reported in the 2023/2024 financial year compared to 8,604 in the 2022/2023 year.
“There is a decrease of 12.53% in absolute deaths in this financial year as compared to same period last financial year (2022/2023),” said NTSA.
Also Read: NTSA Crackdown: 5 Reasons Why Passengers and Motorists are being Arrested
Similarly, pedestrians recorded the highest number of deaths, 788 followed by motorcyclists, 55 and passengers, 324.
“The highest number of road fatalities is pedestrian deaths at 37.88%. In the same period last year, this category of road users’ contribution was 35.62%,” added the Authority.
The other categories of casualties were as follows; pillion passengers (190), drivers (184) and pedal cyclists (39).
Also Read: Murkomen Announces New Technology for School Buses to Reduce Accidents
Pedestrians and motor cyclists recorded the highest number of fatalities with 847 and 631 respectively in 2022/2023.
This was followed by passengers (446), pillion passengers (216), drivers (211) and pedal cyclist (27).
On Monday night, April 1, eleven people died in an accident involving five vehicles along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
Chavakali Boys student also died in another accident along the Kisumu-Kakamega way on the same night.
