Murkomen promises to install cameras on highways amid rise in road accidents

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has pledged to install cameras on highways amid growing concerns over the rise of road accidents.

Taking to his X account, Murkomen reminisced about a request he made to former Inspector General of the Kenya Police, David Mwole Kimaiyo a decade ago.

"God works in amazing ways. This year I am going to have the honour of implementing this request I made 12 years ago to the IG Police before my election to the Senate," Murkomen shared.

12 years ago, Murkomen had expressed his concerns to Kimaiyo regarding road safety, advocating for the installation of cameras on highways as a preventative measure.

"My request to Kimaiyo is to install cameras on most of the highways. Kenyans fear court and police more than accidents," the CS wrote at the time.

God works in amazing ways. This year I am going to have the honor of implementing this request I made 12 years ago to the IG Police before my election to the Senate. https://t.co/oH6DAssRCE

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) April 17, 2024

Murkomen onto Boda sector

Earlier today while speaking at the launch of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi County, Murkomen attributed most road accidents to the boda boda sector.

"If we are going to sort out the accident issue, we have to sort out the boda boda sector. The leading cause of accidents right now is the boda boda industry," he said.

The CS compared past statistics, revealing a shift in the leading causes of accidents over the years noting that recent data reveals that boda boda takes centre stage in road accidents.

"From 2000 to 2008, it used to be the public service and private vehicles. 38 per cent of people we loose are pedestrians, 32 per cent are boda boda riders and 26 per cent are lost through public and private vehicle accidents. Meaning, if we are to prevent deaths of pedestrians knocked off in Nairobi and other parts of the country, we have to sort out the boda boda sector."

He also drew attention to neighbouring countries noting that they have managed to control and manage riders that they each wear safety helmets.

Murkomen questioned Kenya's inability to implement such regulations to ensure safe of the boda boda riders.

"We should ask ourselves how come to our neighbouring countries have managed to organize the boda boda sector that everyone wears a helmet," Murkomen said.