- Former Rift Valley regional police commander Fredrick Ochieng was named the new commandant in the changes.
- Ochieng had been sent to the National Counter Terrorism Centre since March 2022.
Image: HANDOUT
A new traffic commandant for the National Police Service was Thursday named in mini changes announced by the Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
Former Rift Valley regional police commander Fredrick Ochieng was named the new commandant in the changes.
Ochieng had been sent to the National Counter Terrorism Centre since March 2022.
He swapped positions with the outgoing commandant Mary Omari.
In the change, the director of personnel at Kenya police service headquarters Jecinta Muthoni was moved to the Kenya National Focal Point.
Muthoni was replaced by Catherine Mugwe who was the staff officer training at police headquarters.
Five heads of provincial traffic formations were moved.
For instance, Nairobi’s Vitalis Otieno retired and was replaced by Paul Chirchir.
The other provincial traffic officers moved include those of Rift Valley, Eastern and Central.
Officials termed the changes normal and aimed at enhancing police operations.
The traffic department is crucial in ensuring the general safety of the country.
The changes come in the wake of increased accidents in the country amid calls to address the trend.
Corruption is a major factor in the department.
Some 3,369 people died from January to September 16, 2024, following road accidents in the country.
Compared to the same period in 2023, when 3,151 people died in road accidents, this year’s figures represent a slight increase of 218.
This is according to the latest figures released by the National Police Service.
The statistics reveal that the highest number of fatalities were pedestrians, totalling 1,281.
Motorcyclists followed with 802 deaths, while 654 passengers, pedal cyclists 56 and 284 drivers died in these accidents.
Some 292 pillion passengers died in the period under review as compared to 288 in 2023.
Additionally, a staggering 16,979 individuals were affected by road traffic incidents during these first nine months after they were injured.
The latest accident was in Kwale at the weekend where five pillion passengers died in a crash at one site.
In 2023, 1,119 pedestrians were killed while 281 drivers died in separate accidents.
The figures show some 572 passengers died in 2023 in the period under review while 825 motorcyclists died at the same time.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli expressed alarm over the upward trend in road traffic accidents.
He stressed the need for the public and other road users to adhere to traffic regulations to mitigate further loss of life.
“We have observed a distressing increase in road traffic accidents nationwide,” Masengeli said in a meeting with traffic bosses on Tuesday.
“To address this urgent issue, we have convened a consultative meeting with all Regional Traffic Enforcement Officers.”
He said corruption is one of the biggest contributors to the menace.
“We have many families suffering because of the accidents. We have to be serious to address this issue,” he said.
He said thousands of injured people are nursing wounds in hospitals and homes and need critical care which is expensive to get.
The meeting was aimed at addressing road safety concerns and to tackle corruption within the Traffic Unit.
He called on the public to prioritize road safety and comply rigorously with traffic laws to help curb the rising number of fatalities.
In light of these developments, there is a renewed focus on improving road safety protocols and ensuring that traffic regulations are enforced more effectively.
The public’s cooperation is seen as essential in reversing the current trend and reducing the number of tragic accidents on the roads, he said.
“If you are a pedestrian and you know the place you are crossing is illegal please don’t do it for your safety,” said the police boss.
The National Transport and Safety Authority says the leading causes of fatal crashes included hit-and-runs, tyre bursts, and vehicles and motorcycles losing control.
Also overtaking improperly and failing to keep the proper lane resulting in head-on collisions are mentioned as causes.
More than 4,000 people are killed annually in accidents.