Emergency responders at a past crash scene along the Malindi–Mombasa road as investigations continue. Courtesy: Malindi Kenya.net
By Daisy Okiring
NAIROBI, Kenya: More than 4,100 people have died on Kenyan roads this year, pushing the National Transport and Safety Authority to introduce new safety interventions as the country heads into the high-risk festive travel period.
Speaking during the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday, acting NTSA Director General Angela Wanjira said the authority will tighten enforcement and intensify monitoring of public service and commercial vehicles to curb the rising number of fatalities.
Wanjira announced that drivers flagged through NTSA’s enforcement operations and the Intelligent Road Safety Management System will now undergo mandatory re-testing. The move targets motorists repeatedly captured for speeding, reckless overtaking, harsh braking and other dangerous behaviour.
Launched in 2023, the IRSMS digitally tracks real-time driving patterns, helping officials identify repeat offenders and take corrective action. Wanjira said NTSA is stepping up efforts to ensure continuous, real-time data transmission from vehicles throughout the holiday season. Drivers who breach safety rules risk licence suspension.
Unsafe roads and poor driver behaviour blamed for rising deaths
Alongside re-testing, NTSA plans to expand the Usalama Barabarani programme, which addresses seat belt use, fatigue management and responsible driving culture. The agency will also conduct free inspection clinics at major bus termini ahead of the December travel surge and collaborate with the National Police Service on joint, prevention-focused operations.
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“Each loss on our roads represents more than a statistic. Families bear the trauma, grief and financial hardship that follow every death or serious injury,” Wanjira said. She reiterated NTSA’s commitment to cutting national road fatalities by half by 2030.
NTSA data shows that between January 1 and November 13, Kenya recorded 21,042 victims of road crashes, including 4,195 deaths—a 2.9 per cent increase from 4,077 deaths during the same period last year. Slight injuries have risen by 11.4 per cent to 6,959 cases, while serious injuries fell slightly to 8,888.
Pedestrians and boda boda riders remain the most affected groups
Pedestrians remain the most affected group, accounting for 1,580 deaths. Other fatalities include 376 drivers, 681 passengers, 62 pedal cyclists, 411 pillion passengers and 1,085 motorcyclists. Motorcyclist deaths alone rose by more than 9 per cent compared to last year, while pillion passenger deaths increased by 15 per cent.
Counties recording the highest fatalities are Nairobi (447), Kiambu (387), Nakuru (318), Machakos (173), Murang’a (148), Kisumu (137), Uasin Gishu (123), Makueni (120), Narok (117) and Meru (116).
NTSA has also warned women against sitting sideways on motorcycles, a common but unsafe practice. South Nyanza NTSA Manager Adan Adow said sitting sideways disrupts balance and significantly raises the risk of being thrown off during sudden braking or swerves.
“When an emergency brake is applied, a passenger is likely to lose balance and fall either backwards or forwards,” Adow said. He added that sideways passengers are more likely to get their clothing caught in motorcycle wheels.
Adow noted that many road crash incidents involving motorcycles go unreported and urged riders and passengers to prioritise safety. “Safer roads start with all of us. Always exercise caution and self-control,” he said.
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Government rolls out new safety measures to curb carnage
During the memorial event, NTSA officials also sensitised government staff on traffic rules and highlighted risky practices such as placing children on steering wheels and using mobile phones while driving.
NTSA has partnered with the Kenya National Highways Authority and Go Beyond Limited to raise awareness about mental health and its impact on road safety. KeNHA Nyanza Regional Director Julius Mak’Oderoh said human factors remain the biggest contributors to road crashes.
“It is not just the road design, as some believe. Up to 80 per cent of crashes involve distracted or mentally preoccupied drivers,” he said.
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