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“Poor maintenance of motor vehicles and a lack of proper regulation are leading contributors to the marked increase in road accidents,” she said.
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Waqo said she is deeply concerned that school-going children are increasingly becoming victims of those road accidents.
Image: COURTESY
Nominated MP Naomi Waqo wants the government to take urgent action to address the country's surge in road accidents.
Moving a Motion, Waqo said the National Transport and Safety Authority has not effectively and fully performed its functions of regulating safe and reliable transport service.
“Poor maintenance of motor vehicles and a lack of proper regulation are leading contributors to the marked increase in road accidents,” she said.
Waqo said she is deeply concerned that school-going children are increasingly becoming victims of those road accidents.
She said it is the responsibility of NTSA to ensure adherence to road traffic rules and to establish systems and procedures for, and oversee the training, testing and licensing of drivers.
She urged the House to resolve that the government, through the Ministry of Roads and Transport, undertake a comprehensive overhaul of the transportation sector to provide for proper and strict operationalisation of traffic regulations.
“The Cabinet Secretary assured us sometimes back that things will not be the same. Even after the assurance, many lives have been lost,” Waqo lamented.
Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo said the timing of the Motion was appropriate as the country is moving into the festive season when Kenyans will have to travel.
She said schools are closing and that it is important that the country takes road safety seriously to keep Kenyans safe.
“It is essential that as a nation and a House, we look at this matter seriously and put measures in place as has been well-articulated by the Mover of the Motion,” Gogo said.
Waqo added that corruption plays a big role in the surge of accidents since bribes are received and road challenges are not discussed.
“Sometimes public vehicles are overloaded and nobody pays attention. We shall reduce these accidents if we put proper measures in place, apply regulatory changes, and use technology to gather the intelligence required,” she said.
She further said it is touching when school-going children lose their lives while on trips.
“Some parents cannot even comprehend how that happens. Losing a child in whom you have invested a lot and had many hopes is bad. Maybe it is the only child,” she added.
“That is why, when it comes to school-going children, we should put timelines for school-going children to operate within.”
Waqo reiterated that the government must put proper measures in place, especially as the country approaches the end-of-year festive season.