The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and other stakeholders have cautioned motorists against violating traffic rules during this festive season to reduce accidents.
The authority avers that road accidents skyrocket in December as Kenyans travel upcountry and to other destinations for the festivities.
NTSA, according to Thika Region Director Pavleen Mutuma, is on high alert and is working closely with other agencies, including the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), the Red Cross, and the National Police Service (NPS), to reduce the accidents significantly.
“We have put measures in place, rigid measures to restore sanity on our roads and reduce the mishaps. We have already held two multi-agency road shows to sensitise motorists and the public on proper use of the roads and adherence to traffic rules during the festive season,” Mutuma said.
The Director, who spoke to journalists in Thika town, also divulged that the authority has already mapped out hotspots across the region for increased surveillance, adding that it is concerned with the high numbers of accident victims recorded in the area this year. The Kiambu region has already recorded 300 fatalities.
“NTSA is now very keen and has prioritised reducing accidents. We are calling on motorists and members of the public also to be vigilant while using our roads,” she said.
READ ALSO:
Senior managers running parallel publishing firms are polluting the industry
Her sentiments were echoed by KeNHA Board Chairperson Winfred Ngumi, who said that key players in the transport industry are working closely to reduce the worrying number of accidents across the country.
Data released last month by NTSA indicated that close to 4,200 people have died on Kenyan roads this year. One thousand eighty-five of them are motorcyclists, with motorcyclist deaths alone rising 9.15 per cent compared to last year.
The report released by the acting NTSA Director General, Angela Wanjira, indicated that between January 1 and November 13, 2025, Kenya recorded 21,042 road crash victims, including 4,195 fatalities, a 2.9 per cent increase from 4,077 deaths in the same period last year. Slight injuries rose by 11.4 per cent to 6,959 cases, while serious injuries fell by 2.8 per cent to 8,888 cases.
“We do appreciate that there’s a lot of travel, but we are appealing to Kenyans to be vigilant and adhere to all traffic rules. We are also working closely with other agencies, including the National Police Service and NTSA, to ensure there’s sanity on our roads. Drivers also must be alert and refrain from driving while drunk, which endangers lives,” Ngumi said.
Dr Daniel Somba, the Managing Director and Chief Radiologist of MIC Imaging Centre in Thika town, said that health facilities usually experience an influx of accident victims during festive seasons.
He pointed out that most victims who survive road accidents exhibit serious injuries, especially head injuries, fractures, spine injuries, and internal injuries.
The medic alerted members of the public to key things to look out for after an accident, including bleeding, internal bleeding, difficulty breathing, and bloating, adding that prompt medical intervention usually saves lives.
“It’s usually imperative to seek medical attention when involved in an accident, even if you feel unscathed. In cases of internal bleeding, we usually conduct an Ultrasound, a CT scan and an X-ray to determine where the blood is leaking. Whether it has stopped, and to advise on requisite medical intervention,” Dr Somba said.
He also called on all road users to adhere to the set traffic rules and maintain respect while on the roads to reduce carnage and prevent loss of innocent lives.
He noted that speeding, flaunting traffic rules, and operating under the influence have been the major causes of the accidents.
By John Kamau
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
