At least 31 people have died and 75 others sustained serious injuries in 23 road crashes reported across Kenya in the first 13 days of August, the Kenya Red Cross Society has said.
The worrying statistics have renewed calls for motorists to exercise greater caution on the country’s roads as crashes continue to claim lives and leave families grappling with injuries and loss.
The Kenya Red Cross said the incidents recorded in the first 13 days of the month demonstrated the continued danger posed by reckless road use.
“23 crashes. 31 lives lost. 75 seriously injured in just 13 days of August,” the organisation said.
It identified speeding, dangerous overtaking and driver fatigue among the factors continuing to contribute to road crashes.
The organisation urged motorists to slow down, exercise patience while overtaking and avoid driving when fatigued to reduce the risk of fatal collisions.
The latest figures come amid persistent concerns over road safety, with pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users often bearing the greatest consequences of crashes.
The Red Cross said road safety should not only focus on highways, arguing that lower speeds are equally important in towns and cities where motorists share roads with large numbers of pedestrians and other vulnerable users.
It is advocating for 30km/h speed limits around schools, markets and residential areas to improve safety in areas where people are more likely to interact with moving vehicles.
“In our towns and cities, lower speeds matter too,” the organisation said, urging authorities and motorists to support measures aimed at protecting vulnerable road users.
The proposed 30km/h limits would particularly target areas with high pedestrian activity, including school zones, shopping centres and residential neighbourhoods.
The Red Cross said reducing vehicle speeds in such areas would give drivers more time to react and reduce the severity of injuries when crashes occur.
The organisation called on motorists to make responsible decisions behind the wheel, stressing that preventing road deaths requires individual discipline as well as stronger road-safety measures.
The latest toll has also renewed the need for motorists to observe speed limits, avoid dangerous manoeuvres and take adequate rest before embarking on long journeys.
The Red Cross urged road users to prioritise safety over speed and convenience.
“Slow down. Save lives,” it said in its road-safety campaign under the #FikaSalama message.
