Eastern Region Sees Decrease in Road Crash Fatalities

Embu Town – In the Eastern Region of Kenya, there has been a notable decrease in road crash fatalities, dropping from 622 last year to 570 this year. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) also reported a reduction in the number of individuals who sustained serious injuries in road crashes, from 635 last year to 526 this year.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Regional NTSA Manager, there is still significant work to be done to further reduce road accidents, as even one life lost is too many. She emphasized the need for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to achieve the goal of reducing traffic crashes. Sabaya shared these insights during the commemoration of this year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims held at the Regional Police Headquarters in Embu Town.

During the event, Sabaya outlined ongoing efforts to enhance road safety, including implementing traffic calming strategies such as road signage and forming County Transport Safety Committees (CTSC). These strategies, along with partnerships from various stakeholders, are expected to significantly reduce road accidents in Kenya.

Sabaya commended the Council of Governors (CoG) for their support in the fight against road accidents by submitting names for the CTSCs to NTSA for gazettement. Embu County Executive for Roads, Elija Njeru, mentioned that these committees will lead road safety management efforts at the county level.

Additionally, Njeru revealed that Embu County is developing a bill to improve the management of county and public transport vehicles. Embu West Sub-County Assistant County Commissioner Charles Opiyo noted that the majority of accidents could be prevented if all road users remain vigilant and adhere to traffic rules. He pointed out that only a small percentage of road accidents are due to mechanical or environmental factors and urged road users to exercise caution to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives.