Poor funding of road safety initiatives is to blame for increased fatalities on roads, National Transport and Safety Authority has said.
NTSA, in its draft national road safety action plan 2023-2027 says a number of national and county government agencies are currently funded to deliver safety-related services.
These are, NTSA, Kenya National Highways Authority, Police and county health departments.
However, it says, the current funding is insufficient to significantly improve Kenya’s road safety performance.
“The annual socioeconomic losses in Kenya as a result of road crashes are estimated to be more than Sh450 billion. There is need to sustainably finance road safety programmes and cost-effective safety investments in Kenya over the next decade,” NTSA says.
This happens even as road accidents in the country sharply rise.
Yesterday, at least 15 people died in A road accident at Twin Bridge area along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
The victims included eight adults and seven children.
The accident involved a Classic Kings of Congo bus and a North Ways 14-seater matatu.
Police said 38 others escaped unhurt.
The death toll from road accidents has surged across the country.
Police statistics show more than 40 people have died in separate accidents in the country this year.
The NTSA Act provides full legal basis for the establishment of a National Road Transport and Safety Fund.
It allows the Cabinet Secretary, upon recommendation by NTSA, to impose a National Transport and Safety Levy on services rendered by the authority.
This is in addition to premiums received by insurance companies in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Act and 10 per cent of revenue collected from motor vehicle registration, motor vehicle inspection and issuance of driver licenses.
The levy is to be paid to the fund established under the Act.
Other payments are moneys appropriated by Parliament, grants and donations made to the authority and moneys from a source approved by the Authority.
NTSA is expected to use the funds to support road safety programmes and conduct research activities on road safety.
“Other areas that will be supported through this fund include, road safety management systems such as crash data, regulatory reforms, promotion of a safe system response, research, capacity building among others,” the authority says.
The fund is however yet to be established.
The authority, in the draft policy, says the Kenya Roads Board and counties should ensure that all road development and improvement funds have a portion dedicated to road safety.
“Equally, all development partners and financing institutions for road infrastructure should allocate 10 per cent of all infrastructural costs to road safety,” NTSA says.
It says there is need to establish funding mechanisms for the County Transport and Safety committees.
Further, the authority wants all counties to incorporate road safety programmes in County Integrated Development Plans .
NTSA also wants 10 per cent of fuel levy to be dedicated to safety.
This, the authority argues, will help the country to attain sustainability of road safety programmes and relevant legislative and administrative actions needed.
It also wants a framework established for traffic fines and penalties to support road safety programmes.
NTSA data shows that road accidents in the country have been on an upward trajectory since 2008.
According to the data, slightly more than 3,000 people perished in Kenyan roads in 2008 compared to 4,000 in 2009.
In 2010, slightly more than 3,000 people died.
Since 2010, the number of road fatalities has stayed at 3,000.
In 2019, the fatalities were slightly more than 3,500, 2020, (4,000), and 2021 (4,500). The fatalities went slightly below 5,000 in 2022.
Vulnerable road users—especially pedestrians and motorcyclists are the most at risk.
Pedestrian and motorcyclist (and pillion) safety is a major and ongoing concern.
NTSA says many crashes occur on the Northern Corridor, which drives the large percentage of fatalities.
Five roads in Nairobi county, representing 2 per cent of the road network, account for 36 per cent of all fatal crashes in the county.
The safety agency says fatal crashes are highly concentrated in time.
Twenty six per cent of crashes in Nairobi (30 per cent of crashes for the whole country) occur between 7pm and 10pm.
These hours are after the main rush hour period, when congestion tends to decrease —allowing higher speeds.
During these later hours lack of visibility and alcohol can play an important role.
NTSA says in developing effective policies, it is important to factor in user behavior.
The authority says based on video data collected at 38 black spot locations in Nairobi, only 24 per cent of pedestrians use the designated crosswalk when it is available.
“Pedestrians may not use crosswalks because drivers may not stop at these locations, making them unsafe for crossing. Additionally, the data show that while helmet use is high among drivers, only 26 per cent of pillion passengers wear helmets," NTSA said.
It said helmets are perceived to be 41 per cent effective in preventing death for passengers and 69 per cent effective in reducing risk of injury.
"However, helmets alone are not enough; ensuring they are of good quality and are properly worn is important for their effectiveness,” NTSA said.
In the draft strategy, NTSA says the country aims to achieve a minimum 50 per cent reduction in deaths and serious injuries in designated high-risk demonstration corridors and urban areas.