Safety agency changes tack in bid to end boda boda fatalities

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has called for 'soft power approach' this year to tackle boda boda-related accidents that claimed over 700 lives last year.

NTSA Deputy Director of Safety Enforcement and Accident Investigations Hared Adan said the use of law enforcers against the boda boda traffic offenders has been counter-productive.

Speaking in Ntulele during a safety campaign, Mr Adan said that last year, boda boda-related accidents formed 38 per cent of all accidents. In Narok alone, there were 72 fatalities. And a result, the county was ranked at position 14 out of 47 in boda boda-caused fatalities.

NTSA donated 700 helmets and a similar number of reflector jackets to boda boda operators in a bid to ensure that they comply with safety regulations.

"Over the years, boda boda operators have not been in good terms with the police over failure by the operators to comply with traffic rules but we have realised that underlying issues need to be approached from a soft angle," Aden added.

He said private vehicles led in the the number of fatalities with 1,020 followed by heavy commercial vehicles with 722 and public service vehicles with 606 deaths.

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Aden noted that 67 per cent of deaths happened between 5pm and 7am, adding that most victims are pedestrians.