Every year road accidents kill many people leaving their families suffering.
Besides creating enormous social and economic losses to individuals, families and communities, road accidents place a heavy burden on health services and economic development.
Road accidents are one of the main problems for the nation as they are major causes of deaths in Kenya.
Kenya recorded 4,579 fatalities as a result of road traffic crashes in 2021, with more people injured.
By May 22, 1,816 more fatalities were recorded, showing an increase of over nine per cent compared to a similar period in 2021, according to the latest data from National Transport and Safety Authority
The increase is worrying since it appears to defy efforts made over many years by road safety agencies to improve the quality of driving and observance of rules.
Though the blame is largely pointed at drivers and other road users, the traffic police department that is meant to enforce road rules is also to blame for the problem.
The laxity in law enforcement is still a problem. Many police officers are still reluctant to enforce the laws.
Whereas the government has been fighting corruption, some officers are still extorting bribes from PSVs.
PSV drivers have been blamed for careless driving, incompetence, speeding, drunk driving and other vices that render them prone to causing accidents that could have been avoided.
In addition, most driving schools in Kenya are not properly equipped and staffed to provide effective training.
Driver testing also lacks rigour and can easily be passed even by a very weak candidate.
Together with other key stakeholders, the transport sector and civil society, the Ministry of Transport developed a comprehensive five-year National Road Safety Action Plan and reconstituted the National Road Safety Council as the national body responsible for coordinating road safety efforts.
This plan covered many aspects, from improving the road safety of children to raising vehicle standards and drivers’ skills.
This is especially in the public transport sector.
It is estimated that by 2030 if we don’t do something, 2.4 million persons will die in road accidents every year.
Worldwide, road crashes kill approximately 1.3 million people every year —more than two every minute—with more than nine in 10 of all deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries according to WHO.
WHO estimates that crashes will cause another 13 million deaths and 500 million injuries around the world by 2030 if urgent action is not taken.
There is a need to reorganise the training of drivers.
Most attention and focus have usually been directed towards how the PSV drivers are trained.
However, it should be noted that the training of drivers for smaller vehicles is no better.
There is a need for regularised training and thorough inspection of the driving schools.
In addition, reforms in the transport sector should also target passengers and pedestrians as well, since they suffer more in case of accidents.
Stringent law enforcement is necessary to get rid of unroadworthy vehicles, reduce incidences of corruption and return sanity to the transport industry.
Student at Rongo University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
