Last year’s road carnage was the bloodiest in history, with the recent festive season claiming the highest toll, a detailed report by the NTSA reveals.
Close to 5,000 people died in road accidents – about 500 more fatalities than in 2023.
Some 470 Kenyans died in December alone, a 10 per cent increase from 2023. The closest to this number was in June when 410 people perished.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority report, 4,748 people lost their lives on the roads compared to 4,324 the year before.
For the first time, the NTSA report faults the state through its agency, the Kenya National Highway Authority, for the poor state of some roads and the reckless manner in which government vehicles are driven.
Deaths from accidents caused by government vehicles rose by 27 per cent compared to the previous year, claiming 14 lives from 11 recorded the year before.
Motorcycles, commercial and private vehicles accounted for the highest number of road crashes during the year under review.
In the last three months of the year – between October and December - passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and their pillion riders bore the brunt of the killer roads, culminating in nearly 800 lost lives compared to 450 drivers and riders.
About 2.5 million boda bodas are registered in the country, of which 1.8 million are active. Nairobi county was the main circuit of the bloodletting, claiming over 130 victims in three months.
This is attributed to the high number of motorists and drunk driving, among other factors.
Nakuru recorded the second highest number of fatalities, with 107 people losing their lives on the roads.
This is mainly attributed to the busy Nairobi-Busia highway that passes through the county.
On August 13, 2024, five family members died in an accident in the Mba ruk area along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
The five include a woman and her four children, all sons.
Last month, President William Ruto promised to dual the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway to reduce the number of accidents and traffic snarl-ups.
“The commitment that I want to give to you is that next year we will begin the construction of a dual carriageway from Nairobi, first to Nakuru and then from Nakuru later we will take it to Malaba,” Ruto said.
Other counties that recorded high numbers of road deaths over the three months were Kiambu (100), Murang’a (48), Kilifi (40), Kirinyaga (38), Machakos (37) and Nyandarua (36).
Mandera reported no accidents followed by Wajir and Samburu with one fatality each.
Men remain the most likely to die on roads, accounting for 90 per cent of fatalities.
More than 1,000 men were killed compared to 160 women, an in crease of 20 per cent compared to the previous year.
The carnage did not spare the Gen Z, with a rise of a considerable margin recorded in their mortality, especially among those between 20 and 25 years.
Some 250 youths died in the period reviewed.
Persons aged between 25 and 45 years constituted a significant majority of those killed, with the main cause being loss of control, responsible for 243 fatalities.
Other leading causes of fatal accidents are failure to keep to the near side or the proper traffic lane (154), overtaking improperly (105) and misjudging clearance, distance or speed (vehicles or objects) (89).
Other causes are excessive speed (83), heedless traffic (41), error of judgment or negligence (62) and walking or standing on the road (27).
Some 11 people died after falling from moving vehicles, 10 died due to failed brakes and seven while crossing roads masked by stationary vehicles.
Surprisingly, only 10 people died due to the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The Star was informed that the NTSA did not record fatalities caused by online taxi services even though it is suspected they could have contributed to the deaths of 170 people, another 20 per cent rise compared to last year.
Most of the deaths occurred at the end of peak hours between 7pm and 10 pm, peaking on Fridays at about 200 deaths for the last three months of the years.
Tuesday and Thursdays recorded the least toll at 150 deaths.
Last year, NTSA launched its 2024-28 strategic plan that seeks to curb the run-away accidents on Kenyan roads.
“The initiative aims to curtail the alarming rate of road accidents, which not only shatter families and devastate communities but also pose a significant economic burden on the nation,” the agency said.
According to NTSA, road carnage costs Kenya’s economy approximately Sh450 billion every year.
“The brunt of this burden falls disproportionately on trauma victims and their families, while hospitals and emergency services also bear the strain,” it said.
The plan encompasses a comprehensive set of strategies to enhance road safety for all users.
They include improvements on road infrastructure, vehicle safety standards, stricter enforcement measures, heightened public awareness campaigns, post-crash care services, promotion of safe driving practices road safety database, and monitoring and evaluation systems.
A pivotal aspect of the action plan is the focus on enhancing the safety of school transport.
Under the new regulations, school buses must adhere to specified operating hours and undergo regular inspection.
Additionally, school drivers will undergo retraining and retesting to ensure compliance with safety standards.
NTSA said the measures will be implemented to ensure that drivers and riders have a maximum workday of eight hours, prioritising their well-being.
“Moreover, technology will be leveraged as a cornerstone of road safety measures, with the deployment of speed cameras, instant fines, and surveillance cameras at high-risk junctions,” it said.
