"We are needlessly losing many lives" - CS Murkomen decries as he launches nationwide crackdown

About 4,449 people have lost their lives in road accidents this year, a three percent increase from 2021 when there were 4,271 cases, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.

Speaking on Tuesday, December 20 during the launch of a road safety initiative targeting the reduction of accidents during the festive season, CS Murkomen rued that road accidents were killing more Kenyans that COVID-19 did.

"This is really very painful to read to see how we are losing people; in one year, we have lost the number of people more than the one we lost in the entire period of COVID through accidents and this is very painful,” CS Murkomen said.

Out of the deaths recorded this year so far, 403 were drivers, 1,190 motorcycle riders, 1,595 pedestrians and about 1,204 passengers.

Murkomen said that most of the accidents were caused by avoidable human factors.

"From the analysis of past reports, a high number of road carnage results from avoidable human factors including driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, dangerous overtaking, fatigue, and ignoring traffic lights and signs among others," Murkomen added.

The CS has since instructed road safety agencies, including Kenya National Highways Authority, (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), to heighten surveillance on roads.

Also attending the launch was Interior CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki. The joint activity focuses on cracking down on drunk-driving, speeding, over-loading and delayed removal of stalled vehicles and other traffic offenses.