Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has urged road users, including motorists, to place their safety as a priority while using the roads across Kenya. 

Chirchir stated on Monday, August 11, in response to a spike in road accidents. He revealed that 2,933 road fatalities have been recorded so far this year, with 80 deaths reported in the past four days.

Following one of the deadliest weekends this year, Chirchir announced that his ministry has begun nationwide “safety audits” and inspections targeting high-risk road sections.

The exercise aims to identify hazards, reconstruct crash scenes, and issue technical recommendations within a week.

He further revealed that legislative reforms are in advanced stages to tighten road safety regulations, covering school transport, commercial vehicle operations, drunk driving, vehicle inspections, roadside stations, and an overhaul of the Traffic Act.

“I urge all transport stakeholders, operators, and road users, including drivers, pedestrians, boda boda, and cyclists, to prioritise their safety and strictly adhere to road safety guidelines,” the minister said, adding, “Road accidents are not only predictable but also preventable if all road users play their part.”

Chirchir noted that ongoing works like the redesign of the Nithi Bridge and the expansion of the Rironi–Mau Summit Road into a dual carriageway are expected to enhance road safety once finished.

He added that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will intensify public awareness campaigns to promote safer road practices.

One of the most fatal accidents of the weekend occurred Friday evening along the Kisumu–Kakamega highway, when a school bus carrying mourners from Nyahera to Nyakach in Kisumu County overturned at the Coptic blackspot while negotiating a corner, leaving 26 dead.

On Saturday morning, eight more lives were lost in Kajiado County after a head-on collision between a lorry and a 14-seater matatu at Korompoi along the Namanga–Kitengela Road.

In Makueni County, four people were killed when the driver of their car lost control on the Kibwezi–Kitui Road, causing it to roll several times. The victims were returning from a dowry ceremony ahead of a wedding set for next Saturday, with the bride-to-be among the dead.

A few hours ago, one person was killed and six were injured following a tragic collision involving a Royal Liner bus near Lela on the Kisumu-Busia road. 

The crash happened when a flatbed trailer-truck attempting to overtake at a sharp bend just past Lela in Maseno collided with the bus from behind. A fuel tanker was also involved.