Fewer Kenyans died on the road this year, says Transport PS Nduva Muli

Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli has sent condolences to families and friends of Kenyans killed in road accidents during this festive season. The PS, however, urged road users to be more vigilant and adhere to road safety measures enforced by National Transport and Safety Authority and the police.

While releasing accident statistics yesterday, the PS noted a decline in the number of accident deaths reported in December. This December there were 206 fatal accident victims compared to last year’s 265. Nduva said 2,843 Kenyans had died since January compared to 3,179 by the end of last year.

Another 4,933 suffered serious injuries compared to 6,086 last year. Some 3,752 others got minor injuries in accidents compared to 4,691 in the same period last year.

He said the Ministry of Transport would build more capacity within NTSA to step up road safety initiatives. “The government will spare no effort to deal with lawlessness and non-compliance in the transport sector. Drunk driving, speeding and pedestrians who ignore designated crossing points contributed to deaths that could have been avoided,” he said.

Muli also disclosed that over 2,000 people had been booked in the last five days of December alone and would appear in court.

Meanwhile, security agencies and NTSA officials are hunting for a contractor who failed to rehabilitate a crater after excavating materials for road construction in Migori. Five members of a family died after their vehicle plunged into the quarry on Friday.

NTSA Road Safety director Mathew Munyao said the contractor would be charged with negligence. Migori Governor Okoth Obado said he would dispatch a team of public works experts to ensure the quarry is secured.