Atleast 4,139 people lost their lives as a result of road crashes this year.
This is a decrease compared to the 4,517 fatalities that were recorded last year
Data from the National Transport and Safety Authority indicates that 21, 684 victims were involved in road accidents between January 1 and December 20, 2022.
Fatalities from the crashes stood at 4,139, seriously injured (10,201) and 7,344 victims were slightly injured.
This is an increase compared to the same period last year where fatalities were 4,517, seriously injured (8,495) and 6,841 victims were slightly injured.
The data further shows that pedestrians still account for the highest fatalities at 1,506 which was a decrease compared to 1,620 of last year.
Pedestrians were followed by motorcyclists at 1,096 fatalities which was also a decrease from 1,209 in 2022.
Atleast 709 passengers died in the period under review marking a decrease compared to 800 last year.
Pillion passengers had 374 fatalities as compared to 422 in 2022 of the same period.
369 drivers died in the year under review, which is a decrease from 408 in the year 2022.
Of pedal cyclists, 85 of them died this year as compared to 58 in 2022.
Towards 50 per cent reduction
In October, NTSA unveiled the National Road Safety Action Plan (2023- 2027) which aims to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in deaths and severe injuries in designated high-risk demonstration corridors and urban areas.
Mohamed Daghar, the Permanent Secretary in the State Department of Transport, emphasized the urgent need for coordinated road safety efforts involving both national and county governments to enhance safety on Kenyan roads.
“We cannot be losing over 4000 people every year, and that is just part of it. Accidents cause permanent disabilities, we create widows and orphans,” Daghar said.
“We collapse an entire household because the breadwinner is lost. The net effect of this road safety challenge is beyond understanding,” he noted.
Road safety remains a critical issue globally, with the World Health Organization estimating over 1.35 million deaths annually due to road traffic accidents.
The toll makes road crashes the leading cause of death among individuals aged 5-29, posing significant socio-economic burdens on societies worldwide.
