Kenya road crash survivors spend Sh46 billion annually on treatment - Health PS

Kenyan road crash survivors face an overwhelming financial burden, spending Sh46 billion annually on treatment.

Medical Services PS Harry Kimutai highlighted on Tuesday that the figures encompass both primary care and long-term rehabilitation costs for those injured in road accidents. 

In a speech delivered by Dr. Isaac Bashir, head of the Department of Family Health at the Ministry, the PS noted that road traffic injuries are ranked ninth as the leading cause of death in Kenya.

"Besides these deaths, hundreds of thousands are seriously injured, suffering long-term impairments and lifelong disabilities," Kimutai said.

As a result, those who survive undergo prolonged suffering and incur a lot of expenditure on medical treatment and rehabilitation.

The statistics were unveiled at the launch of the Status Report on Road Safety 2023, released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nairobi. The report offers alarming insights into the state of road safety in Kenya.

Science Africa, a media organisation, and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) were among the organisations at the launch.

According to the WHO, Kenya has Africa's fifth-highest rate of road traffic deaths. 

NTSA says that every year at least 4,000 Kenyans lose their lives in road crashes, while about 10,000 more are left with life-altering injuries.

The report by the WHO also indicates that road traffic death rates have risen significantly in the African region over the past decade. Nearly 250,000 lives were lost on the continent's roads in 2021 alone.

In contrast, global road traffic death rates fell by 5 per cent during the same period.

Between 2010 and 2021, Africa saw a 17 per cent increase in road-related fatalities, according to the WHO Status Report on Road Safety 2023 for the African region.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said that the findings of this report point to a serious public health concern for African countries, with hundreds of thousands of lives being lost unnecessarily.

"As WHO, we're committed to working hand in hand with countries to tackle this preventable threat and continue to fully support all efforts to make our roads safer for motorists and pedestrians alike," Moeti added.

Recent statistics from NTSA paint a grim picture of road safety in Kenya. From January 1 to July 7, 2024, at least 11,502 people were involved in road accidents.

Of these, 2,407 died, while the rest sustained various degrees of injuries. Specifically, 6,083 people were seriously injured, and 4,083 suffered slight injuries.

These numbers represent an increase from the same period in 2023, when 9,874 people were involved in road crashes, resulting in 2,341 deaths, 5,194 serious injuries, and 3,742 slight injuries.