Kenya to audit six major highways to identify road crash blackspots
The study will involve gathering crash data recorded on these roads over the past five years, conducting in-depth investigations, and analysing the impact of road design on accidents.
Six major roads, including the Kenol-Murang’a-Sagana-Kagio highway and the Muhoroni-Fort Tenan-Londiani road, will undergo a safety audit by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to identify road crash blackspots and propose redesigns to enhance road safety.
The authority said the study will be based on a black spot management system that will assess high-risk areas, analyse contributing factors—both engineering and non-engineering and recommend targeted interventions to mitigate crashes and fatalities. The findings will guide the implementation of safety measures, including possible road redesigns, to improve overall traffic safety.
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KeNHA, the state agency responsible for developing, rehabilitating and maintaining highways, said the audit aims to assess road safety challenges and propose solutions to reduce fatalities.
“The main objective of the study is to carry out a road safety assessment of selected key road corridors with the main aim of identifying high collision locations, establishing possible or contributory factors, (both engineering and non-engineering),” KeNHA said.
The authority added that the audit will recommend “mitigating measures that enhance road safety and packaging the identified measures into implementable lots,” indicating potential redesigns for the highways in question.
The six road corridors under review include the 220-kilometre Gilgil-Nyahururu-Rumuruti-Maralal highway, the 130-kilometre Eldoret-Iten-Kabarnet-Marigat stretch, and the 109-kilometre Makutano-Machakos-Masii-Kyua-Syongila highway. Also included are the 79-kilometre Sori-Ndhiwa-Rangwe-Oyugis highway, the 65-kilometre Kenol-Murang’a-Sagana-Kagio road, and the 63-kilometre Muhoroni-Fort Tenan-Londiani highway.
The study will involve gathering crash data recorded on these roads over the past five years, conducting in-depth investigations, and analysing the impact of road design on accidents.
KeNHA noted that the investigation will focus on “identifying high collision locations, determining the frequency and severity of crashes, injuries, and fatalities categorized by road user type, and assessing the key contributing factors (including infrastructure and road environment) that influence risk for each user group.”
Road accidents have been increasing in Kenya over the past two years, with many resulting in fatalities. According to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), 4,748 people lost their lives in road crashes last year, marking an increase of 400 fatalities compared to 2023.
The findings from KeNHA’s audit are expected to guide future infrastructure improvements and policy interventions aimed at enhancing road safety across the country.
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