80 killed in road accidents over four days: CS Chirchir

Kenya has recorded 2,933 road fatalities so far this year, with 80 deaths reported in just the past four days, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said on Monday.

In a statement following one of this year’s most tragic weekends, Chirchir said his ministry has launched nationwide “safety audits” and inspections at accident-prone road segments to identify hazards, reconstruct crash scenes, and propose technical recommendations within seven days.

The CS added that legislative reforms are at an advanced stage to strengthen road safety laws on school transport, commercial vehicle operations, drink driving, vehicle inspections, roadside stations, and a review of the Traffic Act.

Ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the redesign of the Nithi Bridge and the dualling of the Rironi–Mau Summit Road, Chirchir said, are also expected to improve safety once completed.

Similarly, he said the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will scale up public education campaigns to encourage safer road use.

“I urge all transport stakeholders, operators, and road users, including drivers, pedestrians, boda boda, and cyclists, to prioritize their safety and strictly adhere to road safety guidelines,” the minister said. “Road accidents are not only predictable but also preventable if all road users play their part.”

One of this weekend’s deadliest crashes was along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway on Friday evening, when a school bus ferrying mourners from Nyahera to Nyakach in Kisumu County rolled at the Coptic blackspot while trying to maneuver a corner, killing 26 people.

On Saturday morning, eight people were killed after a lorry and a 14-seater matatu collided head-on at the Korompoi area along the Namanga–Kitengela Road in Kajiado County.

In Makueni County, meanwhile, four people died after the driver of the car they were travelling in lost control along the Kibwezi-Kitui Road, making it roll several times.

They were driving from a dowry ceremony ahead of a wedding planned for next Saturday, and among those killed was the bride-to-be.