NTSA reveals deadliest roads in 2018

Locals view a car that rammed a crowd at Muraru market in Embu County, killing two people and injuring five others last Friday. [Joseph Muchiri, Standard]

Nairobi, Kiambu and Nakuru have the deadliest roads as a third of those killed in accidents this year died in the three counties.

Of 2,917 victims killed in road accidents nationwide since January, 911 of the casualties were from the three counties.

Nairobi County, which recorded 411 deaths, had the highest number, according to the latest report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

Kiambu County recorded 270 deaths and Nakuru 230.

The report, which was released on December 10, also indicates that Machakos registered 178 fatalities, Kericho 124 and Makueni 105. Mombasa and Kisumu counties recorded 46 and 96 fatalities respectively.

Marsabit and Wajir counties recorded 10 deaths each while Mandera and Isiolo  each registered nine.

Tharaka Nithi recorded eight deaths while Elgeyo Marakwet was the county with the least fatalities at four.

Public service vehicles and those privately owned contributed 69 per cent of fatalities countrywide.

Since the year began, private vehicles have caused 756 deaths, commercial vehicles 672 and PSVs 570.

Motorcycles deaths

Motorcycles were responsible for 486 deaths while 373 deaths were linked to hit-and-run vehicles.

Moreover, Government vehicles accounted for 37 deaths, tricycles 10, pedal cycles 11 while one was killed by a handcart. 

Of the victims, pedestrian deaths were the most at 1,117, an increase from last year’s figure of 999. Second were boda boda deaths at 775, an increase from 674 last year.

October was flagged the deadliest month, having recorded 289 deaths, an increase from last year’s 269. August and April had 278 and 269 deaths respectively.

February, July and September recorded 257, 248 and 266 fatalities respectively. November had 246 deaths, an increase of six from last year. 

Last month, NTSA ordered PSVs to upgrade their speed governors to relay real-time speed information to the NTSA servers. Operators have until March to comply with the directive.

NTSA Director-General Francis Meja said the current speed governors were prone to tampering by unscrupulous drivers.

“Manipulation of the current speed gadgets has made it hard for us to monitor speeding vehicles, which have led to numerous deaths. But with the new device, we will be able to monitor vehicles in real time and take action against those speeding,” said Mr Meja.