Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-04-07 15:50:55
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently addressed claims of a surge in fatal accidents in the country. Speaking at a church service in Narok, he argued that accidents and fatalities have been a longstanding issue since Kenya gained independence. Murkomen pointed out that during former President Mwai Kibaki’s tenure in 2004, the annual fatalities from accidents averaged around 3,000. This number steadily increased over the years, reaching a peak of 4,650 in 2022.
The CS expressed his concern over road accidents, acknowledging the efforts made by former Transport Minister John Michuki in implementing measures such as safety belts to bring order to the roads. Despite these efforts, Murkomen admitted that the country has not been successful in curbing the high number of road accidents.
He highlighted the statistics, saying, “When Mwai Kibaki took over the reins, we were losing 3,000 people in 2004. In 2009, we lost 4,600. The figure dropped slightly but spiked. In 2022, we lost 4,650 people. Last year, the figure dropped to 4,300. Right now, we have lost 1,213 in 3 months. In the same period, we lost 1,146.”
In response to concerns from the public to address the issue of road carnage, the CS emphasized that road accidents have been a problem across all regimes. He stressed that the responsibility lies not only with the government but also with the public in adhering to traffic rules to reduce accidents.
Murkomen pointed out that motorcycles accounted for the highest number of accidents, followed by pedestrians. He urged individuals to take responsibility by avoiding overcrowded vehicles. He called for a collective effort from all Kenyans to address the issue of road accidents.
The CS mentioned that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been directed to resume its road traffic duties in collaboration with the National Police Service. Additionally, he proposed the introduction of dashboard and CCTV cameras in public service vehicles, as well as the implementation of telematics in trucks and school buses to monitor driver behavior.
In conclusion, Murkomen emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle the longstanding issue of road accidents in Kenya. He highlighted the alarming statistics of annual fatalities and stressed the importance of both government intervention and public compliance with traffic laws to reduce the number of road accidents in the country. The CS called for a united effort from all stakeholders to address this national catastrophe effectively.
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