Police, NTSA intensify traffic operations in Rift Valley to curb accidents during festivities

Dr Darwin Ambuka from MTRH with NTSA officials speaking in Eldoret

Police and the NTSA have intensified a crackdown on roads in the Rift Valley region to ensure safety during the busy December holidays.

Uasin Gishu police commander Benjamin Mwanthi says they will work with all other relevant agencies to ensure road safety measures are implemented strictly to avoid accidents.

“We are already having our teams on the ground to ensure all road users, especially drivers comply with existing regulations so that we do not have accidents as is usually the case during such busy periods,“ Mwanthi said.

This comes as the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital reported recording an increasing number of accident victims.

NTSA says it will deploy the largest number of personnel to man roads during the Christmas festivies.

Darwin Ambuka, who is an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital, says more than 40 per cent of admissions, emergency and casualty care at the hospital are as a result of accidents or trauma.

He says the burden of handling accidents had weighed down on most hospitals, with the number of accidents increasing every year.

“Accidents are costly to the country because those who die or are injured are mostly youth, who are still productive,” Dr Ambuka said.

The hospital’s director of health administration Christine Tonui called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders and Kenyans to help stop accidents on the roads.

“Handling accident victims is not something we like to do, more so because we know accidents can be avoided if we all observe traffic regulations,” she said.

Last week, the wold marked activities to remember accident victims and sensitive Kenyans on road safety.

“Accidents break dreams, careers and the lives of so many people,” Tonui said.

"We can avoid accidents if we are all conscious of how we operate on the roads."

NTSA director of road safety Andrew Kiplagat, who attended the event, said Kenya has lost more than 4,100 people through accidents so far this year.

Kiplagat said 30 per cent of the victims were pedestrians and another 35 per cent comprised motorcycle operators.

He said accidents usually increase during the festive season due to increased travel by Kenyans.

“This time, we will be heavily present to ensure that we all comply with road safety regulations so that we safeguard lives,” Kiplagat said.

He said NTSA is already working on a plan to deploy manpower along all roads to ensure everyone complies with the regulations.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility involving all of us. We will continue do sensitisation as we all put in place regulations to ensure we cut down on accidents,” Kiplagat said.

He said there are deliberate government plans to ensure pedestrians get the necessary infrastructure, especially in urban areas, to prevent accidents involving them.

Kiplagat, however, said it was impossible for NTSA to man all roads, and all Kenyans must take self responsibility to keep road safety.

“We have simple regulations that we should just adhere to. For example, we should not drink and drive, follow road signs and avoid speeding,” he said.

Road Safety Association chairman David Kiarie said NTSA should be strengthened and emboldened its role of ensuring road safety in the country.