Government implements road safety measures ahead of school reopening

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that the government is implementing measures to enhance road safety as schools prepare to reopen on Monday, May 13, 2024.

"We have devised strategies to ensure our roads are safe as our children return to school on Monday," Murkomen stated. "It is imperative that all vehicles adhere to traffic laws for the safety of everyone."

Speaking in Homa Bay County on Saturday, he stressed that the Ministry of Transport is conducting a rigorous crackdown on road users and ensuring compliance with traffic regulations.

Murkomen stressed the need for drivers and all road users to exercise caution, particularly in safeguarding the lives of students.

He said that the Ministry of Transport is collaborating with the Ministry of Interior, which has instructed the National Police Service to provide security on the roads, specifically for students who are travelling back to school.

The CS highlighted the expected pressure on public transport due to over a million students returning to school and emphasised the monitoring of vehicles to ensure they are roadworthy.

"In light of the high number of students returning to school, there will be increased scrutiny of public transport to ensure compliance," Murkomen said. "We are committed to stringent enforcement to guarantee the safety of our people."

Furthermore, Murkomen urged parents to release their children early to facilitate safe travel and enable the ministry to monitor their journeys. He reiterated a previous advisory issued to drivers regarding maintaining safe distances, slowing down, and exercising patience, especially in areas prone to heavy rain or flooding.

Murkomen warned that reckless behaviour on the roads will not be tolerated and stated that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) officials, along with the police, will intensify enforcement of traffic rules during this period.

He called on road users to take personal responsibility by avoiding risky behaviours such as speeding or overloading and encouraged the public to report reckless driving for appropriate action.

"Drivers who endanger the lives of others by disregarding traffic regulations or crossing dangerous waters will face consequences," said Murkomen.

Road Accidents

The NTSA this year reported an increase in road accidents in Kenya. Between January 1 and April 1, a total of 7,198 Kenyans were involved in accidents, marking a rise of 1,908 compared to the same period last year.

Among the casualties, 1,189 lost their lives, 3,316 suffered serious injuries, and 2,693 sustained minor injuries. This is an increase compared to the statistics from 2023, where fatalities stood at 1,129, serious injuries at 2,435, and minor injuries at 1,726 during the same period.

NTSA's data highlights pedestrians as the group most affected by the surge in accidents, with 436 fatalities recorded in 2024, an increase from 374 in the previous year.

Early this year, different accidents involving students surged. Kenyatta University bus transporting students to Mombasa was involved in an accident and at least 11 students lost their lives, and 42 others sustained serious injuries.

Kapsabet Boys High School was also involved in an accident along Karbaret-Marigat Road in Baringo. This accident resulted in the deaths of a student and a teacher, with several others sustaining injuries.

Similarly, the Maadili School Kindergarten bus overturned near Gitugi-Murang'a Town, claiming the lives of three students. The accident occurred while the bus was transporting pupils from a scouting event in Nyeri.

Additionally, a bus carrying students and teachers from Itoleka Girls Secondary School was involved in an accident at Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi.