Kenya turns to Safe System Approach to curb road carnage

By Newsflash Writer

Kenya has intensified efforts to tackle the rising number of road crashes by embracing the Safe System Approach, a comprehensive strategy anchored on the three pillars of Engineering, Enforcement and Education.

The approach was highlighted by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General Eng. Nashon Kondiwa while delivering Kenya’s national statement during the 2026 High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Improving Global Road Safety in New York.

Kondiwa said road safety remains one of Kenya’s most pressing public health and development challenges, noting that the country continues to lose between 4,000 and 5,000 people annually to road crashes, while more than 20,000 others are injured every year.

He added that vulnerable road users, particularly pedestrians and motorcyclists, account for well over half of all road fatalities, underscoring the need for urgent and coordinated interventions.

According to the latest NTSA statistics, 2,282 people had lost their lives on Kenyan roads by June 30, 2026, compared to 2,049 deaths recorded during the same period in 2025, representing an increase of more than 11 per cent. Motorcycle riders and passengers, pedestrians and pillion passengers continue to account for the highest number of fatalities, highlighting the growing vulnerability of these road users.

Kondiwa further noted that road crashes are not only a transport challenge but also an economic burden, costing Kenya an estimated five per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually through lost productivity, healthcare costs, emergency response, property damage and long-term disability.

Three-pronged strategy

Speaking at the UN meeting, Kondiwa said Kenya’s response focuses on improving road infrastructure, strengthening enforcement and promoting road safety awareness.

Under the engineering pillar, the government continues to invest in safer roads through the expansion of non-motorised transport facilities, road safety audits, safer school zones and the adoption of internationally recognised road safety standards.

On enforcement, Kenya is leveraging technology to improve traffic management, modernise driver licensing and vehicle inspection systems, strengthen compliance monitoring and enhance accountability on the roads.

The education pillar focuses on nationwide awareness campaigns targeting schools, public transport operators, employers, communities and vulnerable road users, while road safety education is increasingly being integrated into learning institutions to promote responsible behaviour.

Commitment to safer roads

Kondiwa said implementation of the National Road Safety Action Plan, aligned with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, remains a national priority. He welcomed the adoption of the Progress Declaration during the UN meeting, describing it as a key milestone in strengthening global efforts to reduce road traffic deaths.

He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to delivering safer roads through stronger partnerships, smarter technologies, improved infrastructure, effective enforcement and sustained public education.

“Together, through shared commitment and global cooperation, we can save lives, protect livelihoods and build safer, more sustainable transport systems for the present and future generations,” Kondiwa said.