Over 3,000 road crash deaths spur festive season safety crackdown
More than 3,000 people have died in road accidents since January, prompting senators to push the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the NTSA to implement measures that could reduce fatalities.
With more than 3,000 road fatalities already recorded this year, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Police have joined forces to intensify enforcement as the holiday travel season gets underway.
The agencies launched a two-month 2025 Festive Season National Road Safety Awareness Campaign, themed “Road Safety and Precaution During the Festive Season in Kenya.”
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The launch brought together major stakeholders, including the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Notewise Music Hub, FIE-Consult, Che-Dreamakers Events, and several civil society and private-sector partners dedicated to promoting safer roads.
The festive season, spanning November to January, has historically seen a surge in crashes, fatalities and serious injuries. Authorities attributed these risks to increased travel, night driving, speeding, drink-driving and driver fatigue, with children and young people particularly vulnerable. Officials stressed that most of these incidents are preventable, arising from behaviours that can be avoided through heightened awareness and stricter enforcement.
The campaign aims to raise nationwide awareness of festive-season road risks, promote responsible behaviour among motorists and pedestrians, and strengthen collaboration between government agencies, private partners, and community organisations. A unique aspect of this year’s initiative is the integration of music-driven messaging designed to make road safety education more engaging, particularly for children and families.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, represented at the event by Road Safety Liaison Officer Boniface Otieno, reaffirmed the Police Service’s commitment to the campaign. Otieno announced that multi-agency compliance teams, comprising police, NTSA officers, and PSV Sacco representatives, will be deployed along major highways to enforce traffic rules during the festive rush.
He urged travellers to only board vehicles fitted with functional seat belts, plan their journeys early to avoid peak hours, and report traffic violations at roadblocks. He further advised drivers to avoid speeding, desist from alcohol or drug use while driving, and manage fatigue by taking regular breaks. Motorcycle riders and passengers were reminded to wear helmets at all times.
Campaign partners called on Kenyans to exercise caution throughout the festive season.
“By working together, we can ensure that this festive season remains a time of joy—not tragedy,” they said.
In Parliament, senators have called on the government to step up road safety enforcement and urgently improve major highways to reduce accidents ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
During a Senate debate, members warned that key roads remain hazardous, calling for decisive action to prevent further fatalities.
“Road transport is central to Kenya’s economy, but the rising number of fatal accidents, many of them preventable, has become a national concern,” Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah said.
He highlighted major highways, including Nairobi–Mombasa, Nakuru–Eldoret, Eldoret–Malaba, and Nakuru–Kisumu, noting that poor lighting, inadequate signage, and unmarked bumps continue to endanger motorists and pedestrians. He also expressed concern over unroadworthy vehicles still in circulation.
More than 3,000 people have died in road accidents since January, prompting senators to push the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the NTSA to implement measures that could reduce fatalities. They also demanded clarity on steps being taken to ensure major roads are properly lit and adequately signed.
“The government should explain the steps being taken to strengthen enforcement of traffic laws,” Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said. Senators also sought information on plans to introduce a Smart Traffic Management System (STMS) to improve compliance and safety.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo emphasised that the rising number of accidents highlights the need for stricter enforcement, better infrastructure, and greater public awareness of safe driving.
The Senate discussion follows a recent NTSA alert urging coordinated efforts to reduce road accidents during the festive season. NTSA deputy director and head of Motor Vehicle Inspection, Opere Nyaroya, said the authority aims to cut fatalities by at least 50 per cent during the December holidays in line with the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024–29.
The agency has raised concerns over pedestrian deaths, with 1,460 pedestrians killed since January, making them the most at-risk group on Kenyan roads.
NTSA data shows that 3,890 people died in road crashes between January 1 and October 22, 2025, compared with 3,805 during the same period in 2024. Fatalities include 351 drivers, 378 pillion passengers, 57 cyclists and 1,000 motorcyclists.
NTSA principal officer for corporate communication, Antony Nyongesa, described the rising numbers as “disheartening,” noting that many pedestrians were killed while carrying out daily activities.
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