Call for Road Safety as Kenyans Prepare for Festive Season
KISII, Kenya – Public service vehicle operators and motorists have been advised to remain vigilant and drive responsibly during the upcoming festive season, in an effort to reduce road accidents and fatalities. The call for caution was made during the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in Kisii town.
According to Kenya News Agency, who spoke at the event, around 40 percent of road fatalities involve vulnerable users such as pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and pillion passengers. Adow underscored the importance of implementing targeted action plans and mitigation measures to support survivors and reverse the trend of increasing road accidents.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility,” Adow stated, highlighting NTSA’s focus on educating road users, enforcing traffic laws, and engineering roads for safety. The aim is to have comprehensive strategic interventions that promote the well-being of all road users.
Elijah Ogembo, Chairman of the Nyanza Region Driving School Association, appealed to parents to discourage their underage children from engaging in the boda boda (motorcycle taxi) business during the school holidays. He also called on leaders in the boda boda sector to monitor their stages and ensure that school-going children do not participate in the business.
Ogembo further warned those celebrating during the festive season against drinking and driving. Wycliffe Likhaya, Kenya Red Cross Kisii County Coordinator, emphasized the importance of road users learning basic first aid as a preventive measure against road fatalities. He mentioned that the Red Cross provides psycho-social support to road accident survivors and has a toll-free number (1199) for support in emergencies.
The 2023 Economic Survey report indicated a concerning rise in road accidents in Kenya, with 4,690 people losing their lives last year. The number of people involved in road accidents increased by 5.5 percent from 20,625 in 2021 to 21,757 in 2022. Globally, road traffic crashes result in approximately 1.3 million deaths annually, as per the World Health Organization’s fact sheet on road traffic injuries.