Footbridge in Buruburu/ SCREENGRAB
Thirty five pedestrians have been arrested in Buruburu, Nairobi, for allegedly failing to use a designated footbridge while crossing the road, as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) intensified its crackdown on unsafe pedestrian behaviour.
The authority said the enforcement operation targeted pedestrians crossing the busy Buruburu Interchange without using the footbridge, an offence it said obstructs the free flow of traffic and puts lives at risk.
According to NTSA, all the suspects will be arraigned in court to face charges.
"Enforcement operations at Buruburu Interchange, targeting pedestrians who fail to use the designated footbridge while crossing the road, are ongoing. A total of 35 pedestrians have been arrested for failing to use the footbridge, thereby obstructing the free flow of traffic. The offenders will be arraigned in court to face the charges," the authority said.
The latest arrests come just days after NTSA, in collaboration with the National Police Service (NPS) and Nairobi City County, launched a nationwide campaign targeting pedestrians who ignore designated crossing points.
On July 21, the authority announced that 22 pedestrians had been arrested and taken to court after they were found crossing the road at the busy Allsops area instead of using the available footbridge.
NTSA said the operation forms part of wider efforts to improve road safety and reduce the number of pedestrians killed or injured on Kenyan roads.
The authority has repeatedly warned that crossing roads outside designated pedestrian facilities exposes people to serious danger while also disrupting traffic flow along major highways.
The enforcement campaign is being conducted jointly with the National Police Service and Nairobi City County, with officers also educating members of the public on the importance of using footbridges and designated crossing points.
"The authority, in collaboration with the National Police Service and the Nairobi City County, will continue educating pedestrians on safe road use," NTSA said during the launch of the exercise.
The agency has expressed concern over the growing number of pedestrian fatalities in the country, noting that pedestrians accounted for 38 per cent of all road traffic crashes recorded as of June 30, 2026.
"This is alarming, and ending pedestrian fatalities requires concerted efforts from everyone. We call upon all stakeholders to play their part," NTSA said.
The authority has urged pedestrians to make use of footbridges and designated crossings whenever they are available, saying compliance is critical in reducing road crashes.
NTSA has also noted that road traffic crashes continue to impose a significant human and economic burden on the country, with accidents estimated to cost Kenya about five per cent of its Gross Domestic Product annually.
The Buruburu operation is part of the authority's broader #StepsToZeroPedestrianDeaths campaign, which combines public education, safer road infrastructure, improved non-motorised transport facilities, road safety audits and targeted enforcement in high-risk areas as it seeks to reduce pedestrian deaths across the country.
