Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has raised the alarm over the heavy economic and social toll of road accidents, warning that road carnage is costing Kenya as much as five per cent of its Gross Domestic Product every year.
According to Chirchir, the country loses up to Sh800 billion annually due to road crashes, an amount he described as “too expensive for the economy and too painful for families.”
“Road carnage is one area we are still struggling with, and arresting it is extremely costly for any economy,” the CS said Wednesday.
“We have computed that road crashes cost up to five per cent of GDP. That translates to about Sh800 billion lost to the economy when we lose our loved ones on our roads.”
Chirchir noted that, beyond the financial losses, road accidents leave deep scars on families, many of whom are left devastated after losing breadwinners.
He said the human cost of reckless driving, speeding and drunk driving is immeasurable.
The CS, however, stated that the government, working through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), is intensifying public education campaigns to promote safer road use, particularly during the festive season when traffic volumes surge across major highways.
“NTSA is managing and helping us by educating Kenyans to be safe on the roads as we travel for Christmas,” he said.
“It is important to reiterate that we must stay safe, drive responsibly and ensure we are properly captured and compliant on our roads so that we travel safely and come back safely.”
Chirchir singled out dangerous driving habits, especially driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding and fatigue, as leading contributors to fatal crashes, particularly at night.
“If you think about how we drive on our roads, many incidents happen late at night when people are drunk, fatigued or extremely tired,” he said.
“You could easily fall asleep on the steering wheel, and that is deadly.”
Speaking ahead of the Christmas travel rush, the CS urged motorists to prioritise rest over speed, saying it is safer to stop and resume a journey the following day rather than risk lives by driving while exhausted.
“When you are tired, it is better to look for a safe place to rest or sleep over and continue your journey the next morning,” Chirchir said.
“No trip is worth a life.”
The CS appealed to drivers, pedestrians and passengers alike to take personal responsibility for road safety, stressing that reducing road carnage requires collective effort from all road users.
As Kenyans head to various destinations for the festive season, Chirchir said the government remains committed to enforcing traffic regulations and enhancing public awareness, but emphasised that lasting change depends on discipline and caution by every road user.
