Mombasa County has earned international recognition for its commitment to road safety after being awarded a Bronze Medal in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) Speed Challenge.
This is a global competition that spotlights cities making significant strides in managing vehicle speeds to save lives.
The award acknowledges the county’s sustained efforts to improve pedestrian safety and reduce traffic crashes through targeted speed management interventions.
Among the initiatives that earned the city the accolade are the enforcement of the national speed limit, the construction of speed humps and raised pedestrian crossings near five schools, and the roll-out of a multimedia public awareness campaign on the dangers of speeding.
BIGRS Communication Officer Kevin Ismael said the measures were designed to address areas of high risk, especially around schools and pedestrian-heavy zones, where children and other vulnerable groups are most exposed to speeding vehicles.
Mombasa joins seven other cities across the globe that were recognised under the Speed Challenge initiative.
The programme is part of the broader BIGRS framework, which partners with governments and cities to strengthen policies, redesign streets, and promote public campaigns aimed at reducing road traffic injuries and fatalities.
According to the World Health Organization, speed contributes to about one-third of road traffic deaths globally.
“Initiatives such as the Speed Challenge provide a platform for cities to showcase best practices and exchange lessons on saving lives through safer streets,” said Ismael.
The recognition is expected to motivate Mombasa county to scale up its road safety interventions and inspire other Kenyan cities to adopt similar strategies to protect road users.
By Chari Suche
