Police launch crackdown after deadly road accidents

Seven people died in an accident that involved two vehicles at Koromboi area in Kitengela Kajiado county on Saturday morning. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

The National Police Service (NPS) has launched investigations into a spike in road accidents that have claimed more than 40 lives in the past three days.

In a statement, police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga expressed concern over the rising fatalities and vowed to take measures to curb further loss of life.

"The National Police Service, alongside other stakeholders, continues to step up efforts through multi-pronged strategies. These include speed monitoring of PSVs and commercial vehicles, enforcement against overloading, cracking down on PSVs operating outside licensed routes, anti-drink-driving operations, removal of unlawful lights, verification of NTSA-issued licences, taking unroadworthy vehicles off the road, and assessing PSV Sacco compliance," said Nyaga.

The NPS is working with various state agencies to carry out thorough and fast investigations to establish the causes of the recent accidents.

Nyaga noted that most of the crashes can be prevented if road users avoid speeding, dangerous overtaking, drink-driving, overloading, driver fatigue, and careless road crossing.

"To effectively prevent deaths on our roads, all stakeholders in road transport must play their rightful roles. Let every road user be aware of the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for their own safety and that of others," he added.

The warning comes days after 26 people died when a bus overturned at the Coptic Roundabout in Mamboleo, Kisumu.

On Saturday, seven more people were killed in Namanga after a collision involving a lorry and a public service vehicle.