Kenya experienced a significant increase in road traffic fatalities in 2024, with 4,748 deaths reported.
This is a 5.2 per cent rise from the previous year, where 4,513 deaths were recorded, according to a new report dubbed ‘Economic Survey 2025’ released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The figures have been sourced from the Kenya Police Service, Traffic Department.
On reported injuries, the statistics indicate that there was also an increase of 11. 8 per cent, hitting 11,937 from 10,677 recorded in 2023.
There was an increase in the number of those who sustained slight injuries from 183 to 7,560 during the year.
Most traffic road accidents, it states, were attributed to speeding, overloading, failing to observe lane discipline, improper overtaking and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Other causes are total disregard of traffic laws and regulations by road users and aggressive driving.
Generally, reported road traffic accidents rose by 11.8 per cent from 9,990 in 2023 to 11,173 in 2024.
There was a 5.7 per cent increase in reported fatalities and persons injured from 22,933 in 2023 to 24,245 in 2024.
On the type and class of the accidents, pedal cyclist casualties increased by 22.7 per cent from 185 in 2023 to 227 in 2024. Pedestrian casualties also rose by 10.3 per cent to 4,315 in 2024 from 3,913 in 2023.
The pillion passenger casualties further increased by 13.7 per cent from 2,621 in 2023 to 2,981 in 2024.
The Economic Survey report is an annual publication prepared by the KNBS that provides socio-economic information covering five years.
Statistics presented in survey reports are produced in line with internationally sound and scientific methods that are anchored on the fundamental principles of producing official statistics.
In particular, the report presents information on all sectors of the economy based on the Kenya Standard Industrial classification of all Economic Activities (KESIC), as well as information on other emerging topical issues.
Data quality is expressed in terms of dimensions in line with international best practices and recommendations.
