Senators push to declare road carnage a national disaster as death toll rises

Parliament has reignited calls for the government to declare the growing number of road traffic deaths in the country a national disaster.

The lawmakers said road fatalities have reached crisis levels and require urgent intervention.

In a motion tabled in the Senate by nominated Senator Veronica Maina, lawmakers want the state to adopt a coordinated national response to address the alarming surge in road crashes that continue to claim thousands of lives each year.

At least 4,400 people lost their lives in road accidents last year, while more than 17,000 others were injured, highlighting the scale of the crisis facing the country’s transport system.

The fatalities represent a three per cent increase from the previous year, signalling that current interventions have not been sufficient to curb the growing menace on Kenyan roads.

The situation appears to be worsening.

Nearly 400 people were killed in road accidents in January this year alone, representing an 11 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Lawmakers say the figures point to a disturbing trend of preventable deaths that demands urgent action.

“The Senate resolves that road traffic accidents in Kenya be declared a national disaster, requiring urgent, coordinated and sustained multi-sectoral intervention across prevention, emergency response, rehabilitation and long-term systemic reform,” Maina said.

The senator argues road traffic injuries have become one of the leading causes of death in the country, particularly among adolescents and adults in their most economically productive years.

She said the deaths surpass many communicable and non-communicable diseases and are resulting in a significant loss of human capital and productivity.

“Beyond the tragic loss of life, road accidents result in long-term disability, psychological trauma, family disruption and massive economic losses,” Maina said.

She said road crashes cost the country billions of shillings annually, while placing immense pressure on health facilities and emergency response services.

Despite the existence of the National Road Safety Action Plan (2024–28) and other statutory safety measures, the senator said road carnage continues largely due to reckless driving and systemic failures.

Among the major causes cited are speeding, distracted and impaired driving, and widespread non-compliance with traffic laws.

The motion also highlights other structural challenges, including inadequate driver training, unsafe road infrastructure, overloaded vehicles and poorly maintained public service vehicles.

Maina further points to weak coordination between government agencies responsible for transport, law enforcement, health services and county governments as a key contributor to the crisis.

She said Kenya’s emergency medical response capacity remains limited, making it difficult to save victims of serious road accidents in time.

To address the problem, senators want the Ministry of Health working together with county governments to allocate more resources towards road safety interventions, emergency medical services, trauma care systems and post-crash rehabilitation programmes.

The motion also calls on the National Treasury, in collaboration with the Ministry of Roads and Transport, to establish a Road Safety Disaster Response Fund aimed at supporting victims and families affected by road accidents while financing prevention measures.

Additionally, lawmakers want relevant agencies to strengthen implementation of the National Road Safety Action Plan.

This would involve enhanced enforcement of traffic laws, safer road designs, public education campaigns, data-driven interventions and improved emergency response systems.

The motion comes at a time when President William Ruto has announced sweeping reforms aimed at tackling the increasing number of road fatalities.

While receiving a road safety report at State House in Nairobi, the President directed the Ministry of Transport to instal smart CCTV cameras and speed monitoring systems along all major highways within 30 days to support automated traffic enforcement and instant fines.

Among the proposed reforms is the introduction of a points-based driving licence system, where repeat offenders accumulate penalty points that could lead to licence suspension or cancellation.

The President also announced plans to remove minor traffic offences from the court system and handle them administratively to reduce case backlogs and curb corruption.

“Starting July 2026, all vehicles must undergo mandatory inspections to ensure they are roadworthy,” Ruto said.

He emphasised that road safety requires a “whole-of-society approach”, urging Kenyans to exercise discipline and responsibility while using the country’s roads.

“We cannot, and we will not, accept the continued loss of Kenyan lives on our roads,” the President said.

Senators backing the motion argue that declaring road carnage a national disaster would trigger stronger policy coordination, increased funding and urgent reforms aimed at saving thousands of lives lost annually on Kenyan roads.

They also cite constitutional provisions that guarantee the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including emergency medical treatment, as well as the state’s obligation to protect the safety and security of citizens.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

Senators are pushing for road accidents to be declared a national disaster due to rising fatalities. A motion by Veronica Maina cites 4,400 deaths in 2025 and nearly 400 in January this year alone. Lawmakers blame reckless driving, weak enforcement and poor infrastructure. They propose stronger coordination, better emergency response and a road safety fund. President William Ruto has also ordered reforms, including smart highway surveillance, vehicle inspections, and a points-based driving license system to curb road carnage.