NTSA flags drunk driving, faulty speed limiters as 25 killed in road crashes

Grisly accident along Nairobi-Naivasha road in March 2018 [standard, File]

Drunk driving and malfunctioning speed limiters emerged as leading violations in a four-day crackdown that uncovered 1,702 safety breaches even as 25 people died in 16 road crashes across Kenya on December 23, 2025.

The single-day death toll underscores the heightened risk during the festive season, when increased travel typically leads to a surge in road accidents.

Pedestrians and passengers bore the brunt of the fatalities, with eight pedestrians and eight passengers killed, followed by five motorcyclists, three pillion passengers and one driver.

The crashes occurred in Kakamega, Bungoma, Nakuru, Nyeri, Siaya, Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos, Narok, Kisii, Turkana and Uasin Gishu counties.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said it has deployed all available resources to safeguard lives on the roads during festive celebrations.

"We have deployed all available resources and currently implementing every necessary measure to safeguard lives on our roads," NTSA said in a statement on December 24.

Multi-agency compliance checks involving police, NTSA inspectors and traffic officers identified violations across commercial, public service and private vehicles over the four-day operation.

Beyond drunk driving and defective or missing speed limiters, authorities flagged operating unroadworthy vehicles, carrying excess passengers and contravening insurance requirements as key violations.

Speed limiters are mandatory for all commercial vehicles in Kenya following a 2004 regulation aimed at curbing speeding-related accidents.

The December 23 deaths contribute to a worsening annual trend, with Kenya recording 4,458 road deaths in 2025, up from 4,311 in 2024. Pedestrians and motorcyclists account for the highest number of fatalities.