Alarm as accidents claim 55 lives in four days
Seth Mwaniki
At least 55 people have been killed and scores injured in road accidents since January 1.
National Traffic Commandant Mary Omari noted that pedestrians and boda boda operators formed a majority of the fatalities.
Omari called on motorists to exercise caution on the road especially during the busy week when schools are re-opening.
“We have not started well this year. In two days we have lost 18 pedestrians and 15 boda boda riders. This is not something that we would like to build upon,” she said.
On January 2, eight people died when a 2NK sacco matatu they were travelling in was involved in an accident on the Eldoret-Webuye highway.
Kakamega County Police Commander Hassan Barua said the matatu, which was heading to Nairobi from Bungoma, rammed into a stationary lorry.
The accident prompted the Sacco to recall its fleet of over 800 for a three-day mandatory inspection.
Sacco chairman James Kahiro said the inspection being conducted by National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) was meant to ensure their vehicles were free of defects that may risk the lives of passengers.
“We regret the loss of lives through the accident that involved our vehicle... will ensure we have done our best to protect lives now and in future,” he said.
He said the sacco, which operates the Nyeri, Nakuru, Eldoret Nairobi and Thika routes, will also conduct a road safety sensitisation campaign for all drivers.
A survey by the National Transport and Safety Authority in December revealed that 4,121 people had been killed in accidents as of November 30, 2021, compared to 3,478 who died in the same period in 2020.
This was an 18.5 per cent increase in fatalities.
NTSA attributed the accidents to reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, drunk walking, drunk riding, failure to use helmets among other issues.
