Govt orders 7-day road safety audit as fatal crashes rise

An accident involved two vehicles at Koromboi area in Kitengela Kajiado county. [Peterson Githaiga]

The Ministry of Roads and Transport has dispatched agencies to conduct safety audits on key road segments in a bid to curb fatal accidents.

In a statement on Monday, Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the teams will complete the audits within seven days.

"Following the spike in crashes involving public service, private, and commercial vehicles, officials from various agencies are conducting safety audits to identify deficiencies and reconstruct the scenes," Chirchir said.

"The team will submit technical recommendations for implementation to avert unnecessary loss of lives."

The ministry pledged to work with stakeholders to implement measures outlined in Kenya's National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028, within available resources.

Chirchir said efforts to strengthen road safety laws - covering school transport, commercial vehicle operations, drink driving, motor vehicle inspections, roadside stations, and a review of the Traffic Act - are at advanced stages.

The government is also addressing infrastructure challenges, including redesigning the Nithi Bridge and dualling the Rironi-Mau Summit Road.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will continue scaling up public education and awareness campaigns to promote behaviour change.

Chirchir urged all road users and operators to strictly follow safety regulations.

"Full compliance with stipulated speed limits, vehicle maintenance standards, proper licensing, and traffic regulations is not optional but a collective responsibility that safeguards lives," he said.

According to ministry data, 2,933 fatalities were recorded between January and August 10, 2025 - with 80 deaths reported in the past four days alone.