Kenyans, particularly motorists and motorcyclists, have been urged to strictly adhere to traffic rules during the December festive season and January back-to-school period to prevent road accidents.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) cautioned drivers and motorcycle operators against speeding, drunk driving, and operating unroadworthy vehicles. It called for vigilance and compliance with traffic laws to safeguard lives as road usage surges during the festive period.
In a bid to enhance safety, NTSA has intensified operations nationwide by deploying additional patrols, conducting vehicle inspections, monitoring public service vehicles (PSVs), and rolling out extensive road safety education campaigns across highways and urban centres.
Speaking to KNA, NTSA Rift Valley Regional Manager Ms. Ascar David emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility and urged all road users in Kericho County to prioritize life over speed, warning that most accidents are avoidable if rules are followed.
She revealed that NTSA, in collaboration with the National Police Service and the County Transport and Safety Committee, is focusing on stopping speeding, overloading, operating unroadworthy vehicles, alcohol-impaired driving, and ensuring the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and motorcyclists.
Ms. David noted that Kericho County recorded 83 road fatalities between January and October 2025, prompting intensified patrols, roadside inspections, and public sensitization programs to encourage responsible road use.
“The National Road Safety Action Plan 2024–2028 guides our operations. It focuses on risk-based sensitization and deterrence enforcement to minimize deaths and serious injuries,” she explained.
NTSA is conducting targeted awareness programs in schools, urban centres, and major highways to educate drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on helmet and seatbelt use, pedestrian safety, and proper vehicle maintenance.
At the same time, Ms. David said county authorities are monitoring PSVs to ensure drivers have valid licenses, vehicles are roadworthy, and loading limits are observed to reduce accident risks during the high-travel festive season.
According to NTSA statistics, between January 1 and November 13, 2025, Kenya recorded 21,042 road crash victims nationwide—comprising 4,195 fatalities, 9,888 serious injuries, and 6,959 minor injuries—representing a 2.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The statistics further show that while pedestrian deaths have slightly declined, fatalities among drivers, motorcycle pillion passengers, and bodaboda riders increased by 8.67 percent, 15.13 percent, and 9.15 percent respectively.
Ms. David reiterated that personal accountability among all road users is essential to reversing these trends, adding that disciplined and defensive driving could significantly save lives.
“Safety begins with every individual on the road. Let’s each commit to using our roads responsibly and ensure everyone gets home safely,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, Kericho County Commissioner Jeremiah Mwai Gicheru assured residents that security has been heightened during the festive season, with increased police presence on roads, towns, and public areas to enhance safety and deter crime.
He added that joint security patrols involving NTSA officers, the National Police Service, and local administrators are underway to enforce traffic compliance, prevent accidents, and respond swiftly to emergencies across all sub-counties.
By Kibe Mburu
