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Kenya lost 3,097 people in road accidents this year compared to 3,249 in 2011/CFM-File

Kenya

Slight drop in Kenyan road fatalities this year

Kenya lost 3,097 people in road accidents this year compared to 3,249 in 2011/CFM-File

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 28 – Statistics released by Kenya’s traffic department show that there was a slight reduction in the number of people killed in road accidents this year, compared to 2011.

National Traffic Commandant Benson Kibui said Kenya lost 3,097 people in road accidents this year compared to 3,249 in 2011.

In an interview with Capital FM News, Kibui said the reduction was attributed to intensive road campaigns and public participation is reporting errant drivers.

“There has been a slight but welcome improvement that we attribute to motorists adhering to traffic rules more so the Traffic Amendment Act… people are alert, they’re tired of fatalities on the roads,” he said.

He said six people were killed on Christmas day compared to last year’s 19, which he attributed to motorists being careful this festive season than previously.

Four other people were killed in separate road accidents in Nakuru and Kisii on Boxing Day.

The number of those injured in 2012 also went down to 15,357 from 18,905 in 2011, as was the number of those who died between December 24 and 26 which came down from 42 to 25.

Kenya has one of the worst road safety records in the world, with official statistics showing at least 3,000 people are killed in accidents annually.

As a result, the country is implementing tough traffic regulations enhanced recently with stiffer penalties targeting both private and public vehicle operators.

For instance, drink driving now attracts 10 years in jail or a fine of Sh500,000 or even both.

Motorists who drive on pavements or pedestrian walkways will be jailed for three months, a fine of Sh30,000 or both.

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Reckless and dangerous driving will attract a Sh100,000 fine or two years in jail, for first offenders.

This week, three passengers died when their matatu lost control and landed in a ditch on the Kisii-Keroka highway, leaving 17 others wounded.

Earlier, a mini truck driver was killed when his vehicle crashed on two other trucks on the Nakuru-Naivasha highway.

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