Mombasa County road traffic deaths surge by 36% in 2023
The report identified high-risk locations and corridors as key focus areas for intervention. Notable hotspots include Hass Filling Station along Mombasa Road, Palm City along Malindi Road, and Loreto Convent Primary School on Nyerere Avenue.
The 2023 Mombasa Road Safety Report has highlighted a worrying increase in road traffic fatalities and injuries in Mombasa County, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety measures.
According to the report, sourced from police crash data, road traffic deaths surged by 36% in 2023, rising from 69 in 2022 to 94. Serious injuries also increased by 17%, with 188 cases recorded in 2023 compared to 161 the previous year.
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Vulnerable road users bore the brunt of these fatalities, accounting for 92% of the total deaths. Pedestrians alone represented 56%, followed by motorcyclists and cyclists.
Crashes resulting in fatalities were most frequent during early morning hours (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.) and evenings (6 p.m. to midnight), pointing to specific times that require targeted interventions.
The report was launched in collaboration with the Mombasa City County Government and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS).
Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling the crisis.
“Safeguarding lives on our roads is a priority for my government. Through data-driven policies and collaborative efforts, such as our partnership with BIGRS, we are addressing this critical public health challenge,” he said.
The report identified high-risk locations and corridors as key focus areas for intervention. Notable hotspots include Hass Filling Station along Mombasa Road, Palm City along Malindi Road, and Loreto Convent Primary School on Nyerere Avenue.
A past scene after a road crash on the Malindi-Mombasa road. (Photo: Malindi Kenya.net)
High-risk areas
High-risk corridors, such as the Mombasa–Nairobi Road, the Likoni–Ukunda Road, and the Port Reitz–Airport Road, have consistently recorded high crash rates, making them priority zones for safety measures.
County Transport Minister Daniel Manyala highlighted the devastating impact of road traffic crashes on communities. “The rising fatalities and injuries underscore the need for strengthened enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and engineering solutions. We must work together to reverse these alarming trends,” he stated.
Through the BIGRS partnership, Mombasa has made strides in road safety efforts, including capacity building for law enforcement.
The Kenya Police Coast Region and the Mombasa Inspectorate have undergone training by the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) and received radar speed gun devices, enhancing their ability to enforce speed limits and other traffic regulations.
Vital Strategies’ Regional Technical Advisor for Africa, Dr Raphael Awuah, presented key findings at the report launch. “Understanding who is dying on roads, and where and why crashes are happening, is essential for developing life-saving interventions. The increase in deaths and injuries reflected in this report shows that urgent action is needed to prevent these tragedies,” he said.
Rebecca Bavinger of Bloomberg Philanthropies commended Mombasa’s progress in road safety while acknowledging the need for further action. “We applaud the county’s proactive approach, including the establishment of the County Transport and Safety Committee. Bloomberg Philanthropies remains committed to supporting these efforts to make roads safer for all users,” she noted.
The report’s findings and recommendations aim to inform behaviour change campaigns, enhanced enforcement, and infrastructure improvements to curb the rising fatalities.
Nassir noted with collaboration between government agencies and stakeholders, Mombasa County is poised to make significant strides in road safety and protect its most vulnerable road users.
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