NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 21 – A total of 3,212 people have been killed in road accidents in Kenya since January 2021.
National Traffic Commandant Mary Omari on Tuesday said the deaths represented an alarming increase of 652 victims from the same in 2020.
She was speaking during a meeting convened by Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua.
The DIG had convened the forum with regional traffic officers and road transport stakeholders to deliberate on proposals aimed at reducing road carnage.
“We have lost 1,111 pedestrians in 2021, which is a 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year. It is clear that the highest number of people who are dying on the road on a daily basis are pedestrians,” she said.
The report indicated 311 drivers, 520 passengers, 318 pillion passengers, 61 pedal cyclists and 891 motorcyclists has perished in period lapsing September 20.
Most of the accidents were attributed to unroadworthy vehicles, human error as a result of speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, non-use of safety belts motorcycles operating at night with poor visibility and lack of consideration for pedestrians and pedal cyclists.
DIG Mbugua called upon Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to improve road infrastructure such as foot bridges and zebra crossings to tame rising incidents with pedestrians who perished in road accidents totaling a third of cumulative fatalities reported.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police said traffic officers deployed at approved roadblocks will continue working with other agencies so as to get rid of unroadworthy vehicles on the roads.
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