Police officers from Murang'a County have started a road safety campaign in primary schools to stem road accidents.
This follows a high number of accidents reported across the
county in the recent past.
County police commander Kemboi Kimaiyo said at least five pupils
were involved in road accidents in July, with two of them losing their lives.
This, he said, prompted the police to jump into action and start
a sensitisation drive to teach pupils road safety measures.
"We lost one Grade 1 pupil from Kongoini and another one
here in town in the same month. These children are our future and have to protect
them," he said.
On Monday, Kimaiyo led a team of police officers to Technology Primary School in Murang'a town, where pupils were sensitised on the need to
check for oncoming vehicles before crossing roads.
He said some children get carried away with games on their way
home and sometimes get onto busy roads unknowingly.
The police officers also urged the children to be on the lookout for strangers offering them sweets and other edibles that are sometimes
laced with drugs and are used by sex predators to lure them.
"We started with this school because it's in close
proximity to Murang'a police station but will be visiting others and hope the
children will also inform their siblings," Kimaiyo said.
He urged teachers to emphasise road safety rules during parades.
Geoffrey Ruheni, a police officer, said most accidents involving
children occur in the evening.
"We have asked them to be keen as they walk home and stop
playing on the road," he said.
The police also sensitised the children on cyber-bullying on
social media forums and urged them to promptly inform their parents in case
they experience it.
Many children, he said, are able to access popular social media
platforms through their parents' mobile phones while in some instances, parents
buy them the gadgets.
"We have also given them the hotlines they can use in case
they find themselves in any danger".
Ruheni also urged drivers to ensure they get sufficient sleep
and avoid taking drugs and alcohol while driving.
Head teacher Beatrice Wachira highlighted the impact of the
sensitisation to the children, many of whom board matatus and boda bodas to
school and back home.
"These are things we tell them every day but they'll take
the information more seriously now that it has come from security
officers," she said.
