Kenyans are all too familiar with the grim headlines: another horrific road accident, another life tragically lost. While these fatalities deserve our attention, the true scope of this crisis is far greater.
In 2024 alone, over 1,189 Kenyans have perished on our roads, a number that continues to climb. Beyond this tragic loss of life, over 7,000 more have been injured in road accidents, many suffering life-altering injuries. This is not just a fatality crisis; it's a human catastrophe demanding immediate action.
My friend and colleague, Dr Stanley Aruyaru, recently advocated the establishment of trauma hospitals along our highways as a crucial step toward reducing fatalities. While this is a vital component, we must also consider the roles of road design and behavioural interventions. This opinion piece argues that a multifaceted approach, with a strong emphasis on improving road design, is essential for effectively reducing road deaths in Kenya.
In this two-part series we will discuss firstly the current crisis and immediate interventions that can be made and in the next article consider a longer-term goal that seeks to mitigate the fact that human behaviour is hard to control.
Dr Aruyaru's proposal for trauma hospitals is compelling. The golden hour—the first 60 minutes after a traumatic injury—is critical for saving lives. Currently, many accident victims in Kenya die due to delayed medical care.
By placing trauma hospitals along major highways, we can ensure rapid emergency response, drastically improving survival rates. This measure addresses the immediate aftermath of accidents, providing a crucial safety net for those injured on our roads.
However, I would argue that reducing the number of accident victims and improving the capacity of our current hospitals to handle these cases would have the same effect. The famous Michuki Rules, for instance, actually worked. Road accidents and related deaths reduced drastically.
I was an orthopaedic resident at Kenyatta National Hospital at the time, and the difference was like night and day. Our patient numbers dropped overnight, allowing us to handle more specialised surgeries.
Then the boda boda menace emerged, and our trauma numbers became unmanageable again, even with increased theatre space and surgeon numbers. My point is you cannot outmanage the recklessness of road users.
Equally important is addressing human behaviour on the roads. Enforcement of traffic laws, such as speed limits, seat belt use and penalties for drink-driving, can significantly reduce road deaths. Public awareness campaigns can also play a crucial role in changing driver behaviour. In Kenya, stricter law enforcement and widespread education on road safety can foster a culture of responsible driving.
Successful behavioural interventions can be seen in countries like Australia, where rigorous enforcement of speed limits and seat belt laws has led to a significant decline in road fatalities. Additionally, public awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of drink-driving and distracted driving have proven effective in altering driver behaviour.
In Kenya, the National Transport and Safety Authority has initiated campaigns aimed at educating the public on road safety. However, more needs to be done to ensure these messages reach a wider audience and result in lasting behavioural change.
Collaboration with media outlets, schools and community organisations can amplify these efforts, making road safety a shared responsibility. The problem with our campaigns has always been consistency and, in my opinion, the built-in corruption that inevitably results in failed enforcement of the rules.
In conclusion, reducing road deaths in Kenya requires a comprehensive approach that includes building trauma hospitals, enforcing traffic laws and promoting public awareness.
While these immediate interventions are critical, they must be complemented by long-term solutions focusing on road design and infrastructure improvements, which will be discussed in Part 2. By taking these steps, we can address the crisis more effectively, saving lives and reducing the burden on our healthcare system.
The time to act is now. Let us prioritise both immediate and long-term measures in our efforts to reduce road deaths and make Kenya’s roads safer for everyone.
