Road accidents across the country have claimed 84 lives in the first week of 2024.
This is according to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority between January 1 to January 7.
The statistics are an increase compared to 72 recorded during the same period in 2023.
Pedestrians lead in fatalities with 31, compared with 28 recorded last year.
Following closely behind are motorcyclists recording 23 deaths marking a slight decrease compared to 24 in 2023.
Drivers are in third place where seven have lost their lives in road accidents. This is an increase compared to six in the same period last year.
Pillion passengers recorded six deaths compared to seven witnessed last year.
This year, only one pedal cyclist has died from an accident within the period under review.
In October 2023, NTSA unveiled the National Road Safety Action Plan (2023- 2027) which aims to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in deaths and severe injuries in designated high-risk demonstration corridors and urban areas.
Mohamed Daghar, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Transport, emphasized the urgent need for coordinated road safety efforts involving both national and county governments to enhance safety on Kenyan roads.
“We cannot be losing over 4000 people yearly, which is just part of it. Accidents cause permanent disabilities, we create widows and orphans,” Daghar said.
“We collapse an entire household because the breadwinner is lost. The net effect of this road safety challenge is beyond understanding.”
Road safety remains a critical issue globally, with the World Health Organization estimating over 1.35 million deaths annually due to road traffic accidents.
The toll makes road crashes the leading cause of death among individuals aged 5-29, posing significant socio-economic burdens on societies worldwide.
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 on 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 7 pm and 10 pm.
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.