WRITTEN ON APRIL 17, 2024

President William Ruto launched the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 at KICC Nairobi, emphasizing its importance in reducing accidents and improving road safety.
He highlighted the alarming statistics, with 20,000 people currently hospitalized and 3,000 lives lost annually, attributing much of it to impunity: “We all know what is to be done but numbers are still increasing. Impunity is keeping us from doing the right thing.” He said.
Ruto pledged government action, promising infrastructure improvement, zero tolerance for negligence, and heightened awareness;”We will improve our infrastructure, adopt zero-tolerance to negligence and aggressively enhance awareness to reduce road accidents.”
Additionally, he mentioned the utilization of modern traffic monitoring technology for nationwide safety.”The Government will also employ modern traffic monitoring technology to ensure safety of road users across the country.”

Cabinet Secretary of Roads and Transport, Kipchumba Murkomen, identified reckless driving as the primary cause: “The greatest cause of accident is recklessness. The driver and riders are at the center of this strategic plan.”The plan is therefore expected to reduce the rising accidents by 50 percent and this will be executed by collaboration among the relevant agencies.

Written by: Mapenzi Kitsao.