- The majority are bodaboda riders and pedestrians
- Some 4,579 people were killed in accidents in the country in 2021 with 16,046 nursing injuries as compared to 3,500 who died in 2020.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
At least 60 people have been killed and scores injured in road accidents since January 1.
National Traffic Commandant Mary Omari said pedestrians and bodaboda operators formed a majority of the fatalities.
More than 200 people are nursing wounds following the separate accidents.
The latest incident happened along at Matakari on the Kitiri-Embu highway where four people were on Tuesday killed in a crash.
Officials said an eight-month-old baby was among the four people who perished in the grisly road accident that involved a bodaboda operator and a van.
The incident happened when the motorcycle rider tried to overtake a vehicle and rammed into an oncoming one in the opposite lane.
Omari called on all concerned to exercise caution on the road especially during the busy week when schools are re-opening.
“In two days we have lost 18 pedestrians and 15 bodaboda riders and the figures seem to be increasing,” she said.
On his side, government spokesperson, Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna, urged drivers to adhere to traffic regulations to prevent loss of lives on Kenyan roads.
"As schools re-open this week, we appeal to all drivers of both public and private vehicles to adhere to traffic rules and regulations. Drive responsibly, and let us get all our children to schools safely," Oguna said.
He added the country is losing many people to accidents leaving many suffering.
“Safety on our roads remains a matter of great concern to the government and the general public. We are losing many of our people on road crashes, leaving many households without a breadwinner, and children orphaned.”
In the most recent incident, eight passengers were on January 2 killed after a passenger service vehicle (PSV) they were travelling in rammed into a stationary lorry at Musembere area along the Eldoret - Webuye highway.
By the end of 2021, some 4,579 people had been killed in accidents in the country, 16, 046 nursing injuries as compared to 3,500 who died in 2020.
Speeding, according to police, has been the main cause of the crashes.
Reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, drunk walking, drunk riding, failure to use helmets among other issues have also been attributed to the increase in crashes.
The National Transport and Safety Authority said most of the accidents are preventable.
NTSA said it had strengthened collaboration with law enforcers for harmonious execution of its mandate while at the same time providing access to vehicle records and licensing data to support security agencies.
It has also developed comprehensive, highly publicized road safety awareness campaigns and programmes among pedestrians, bodaboda riders, drivers of public service vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles aimed at behaviour change.