Accidents on Kenya roads rise says NTSA

NAIROBI, KENYA: This year could be the worst for road users across the country as accidents are likely to hit an all-time high, a new National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) report shows.

In the past seven months, the agency has found that road safety mechanisms in the country have further broken down leading to record high accidents and massive loss of lives.

This as the number of accidents has shot up by 1,048 to hit 7,229 as of July 1 this year compared to 6,181 in the same month last year.

Moreover, pedestrians continue to post the highest figures in terms of fatalities where lives lost in both periods stand at 620 in July this year compared to 576 in July last year.

Following closely are passengers at 365 fatalities compared to 325 the previous year.

Kenyans succumbing to motorcycle accidents rose by 46 victims to hit 330 in July this year compared to 284 in the same month last year.

Overall, Kenyans reported having died on the road increased by 162 to reach 1,662 in 2019 compared to 1,500 last year.

Moreover, passengers take the lead in the seriously injured category at 1,228 as of July this year compared to 930 in the same month last year.

Following closely are pedestrians at 608 in July this year compared to 308 in July last year.

Motorcyclists could not be left behind with Kenyans seriously injured rising by 282 to hit 576 in July compared to 294 in the same month last year.

Overall, Kenyans seriously injured on the road reached 3,078 in 2019 compared to 2,061 last year. This was an increase of 1,017 serious injuries.

In a separate report, the Authority also found that the country’s hotspots as of July 1 alone stood at nine locations with Luanda, Kilifi, Naromoru, Makupa, Sagana, Kapenguria, Matuu, Bomet and some parts of Nairobi recording up to 24 accidents.