Parliament has called on the government to step up road safety enforcement and urgently improve major highways to reduce accidents ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
During a Senate debate, lawmakers warned that some key roads remain hazardous and urged authorities to take decisive action to prevent further fatalities.
“Road transport is central to Kenya’s economy, but the rising number of fatal accidents—many of them preventable—has become a national concern,” Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah said.
He highlighted major highways, including Nairobi–Mombasa, Nakuru–Eldoret, Eldoret–Malaba, and Nakuru–Kisumu, noting that poor lighting, inadequate signage, and unmarked bumps continue to pose risks to motorists and pedestrians.
Omtatah also expressed concern about unroadworthy vehicles on the roads.
More than 3,000 people have died in road accidents since January.
Lawmakers are urging the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to implement measures that could reduce fatalities.
The Senate also wants the government to clarify steps being taken to ensure major roads are properly lit and adequately signed.
“The government should explain the steps being taken to strengthen enforcement of traffic laws,” Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said.
Senators also sought information on plans to introduce a Smart Traffic Management System (STMS) to improve compliance and road safety.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo emphasised that the rising number of accidents underscores the need for stricter enforcement, improved road infrastructure, and increased public awareness of safe driving.
The Senate discussion follows a recent NTSA alert urging coordinated efforts to reduce road accidents during the festive season.
NTSA deputy director and head of Motor Vehicle Inspection, Opere Nyaroya, said the authority aims to cut fatalities by at least 50 per cent during the December holidays, in line with the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024–29.
The agency recently raised concerns over pedestrian deaths, with 1,460 pedestrians killed since January, making them the most at-risk group on Kenyan roads.
According to NTSA data, 3,890 people died in road crashes between January 1 and October 22, 2025, compared with 3,805 during the same period in 2024.
Fatalities include 351 drivers, 378 pillion passengers, 57 cyclists, and 1,000 motorcyclists.
NTSA principal officer for corporate communication, Antony Nyongesa, described the rising numbers as “disheartening,” noting that many pedestrians were killed while carrying out daily activities.
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