The National Police Service (NPS) announced that the number of deaths resulting from road accidents has increased this year along with a rise in the number of road accidents.
According to NPS report, between January to September a total of 15,924 road crash victims were recorded countrywide, with 3,541 of them being fatalities.
Moreover, out of the total number of road crash victims, 7,236 were seriously injured while 5,147 survived with slight injuries.
“Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, motorcyclists and pillion passengers are the most affected in these statistics,” NPS Spokesperson Bruno Shioso stated.
Likewise, last week alone, police noted a sharp increase in fatalities among passengers, revealing that 145 people died.
“Between 18th – 26th September 2022, a total of 145 persons have perished,” Shioso said.
Shioso blamed the rise in road accidents to what he termed preventable and predictable factors, such as non usage of seat belts by commuters.
“Driver behavior such as speeding leading to loss of control in high-occupancy vehicles and poor mechanical condition of vehicles resulting in brake failures and tyre bursts were some of the noted causes,” Shioso added.
The most recent accident where ten people died occurred near Got Kokech/Ngengu trading centre along Homa Bay – Kendu Bay Road in Homa Bay County on Monday, September 26.
Also Read: 8 People Die In a Fuel Tanker-Matatu Accident In Homa Bay
The PSV Matatu they were travelling in got into a head-on-collision with a fuel tanker.
Furthermore, Homa Bay Police Commander Samson Ole Kinne confirmed that the accident was as a result of speeding and careless overtaking.
He also added that the ill-fated Nissan matatu driver was overtaking another Nissan matatu where the road is bending, making it difficult for him to notice the tanker.
