Nakuru: Nakuru County is spearheading a road safety campaign by hosting a pioneering inter-county induction and evaluation training program organised by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). This collaborative effort today brought together County Transport Safety Committees and stakeholders from Nairobi, Kericho, Nakuru, Makueni, Kisumu, and Kakamega counties.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event organised by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is focusing on the urgent need to implement stringent measures to curb road accidents on Kenyan roads. The Transport Safety body emphasized the importance of collaborative strategies, improved legislation, resource mobilisation, and effective partnerships to achieve significant reductions in road crashes.
In 2024, Kenya recorded 3,917 road accidents involving pedestrians, up from 3,417 in 2023. Road casualties rose to 21,620, despite preventive measures such as road reconstruction at black spots like Sachagwan in Molo sub-county. During the occasion, Nakuru County’s Executive Committee Member for Infrastructure, Eng. Michael Kamau, affirmed the county’s commitment to road safety.
He highlighted Nakuru’s successful road safety sensitisation clinic held last year, encouraging other counties to adopt similar initiatives. He emphasized that Nakuru County has been actively collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance road safety in the vast county. The inter-county training focused on developing effective road safety strategies. Participants explored ways to improve collaboration among different actors in the sector, strengthen existing traffic laws, and secure the necessary resources to implement safety programs.
The initiative also intends to create a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to road safety across the participating counties. Eng. Kamau revealed that the training also focused on several key interventions that are vital in reducing road accidents on Kenyan highways. Among them are stringent enforcement of traffic regulations, including speed limits, drunk driving laws, and proper use of seatbelts and helmets for all categories of drivers. The CEC also advocated for increased police presence and enhanced use of technology like speed cameras to act as deterrents to suspected offenders.
He also emphasized the importance of investing in better road designs, strategic signage, proper lighting, and pedestrian walkways in order to curb frequent accidents. Eng. Kamau said comprehensive driver training programs, including defensive driving techniques and road safety awareness, are vital assets in addressing road carnage. He also advocated for regular refresher courses for all drivers so as to enhance road safety.
Eng. Kamau underscored that educating the public about road safety through campaigns targeting pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists can improve behaviour and reduce accidents too on Kenyan highways. Other important measures the engineer proposed include regular motor vehicle inspections as well as installation of essential safety features in order to minimise the severity of accidents. He also called for the need to improve emergency response systems after an accident occurs as well as post-accident care in order to reduce fatalities and safeguard the welfare of accident victims.