Transport stakeholders in Murang’a County have called for stronger coordination among government agencies, road authorities and industry players to improve road safety, strengthen enforcement and reduce accidents.

The stakeholders, drawn from the matatu, boda boda, taxi and lorry sectors, made the call during the launch of the Murang’a Transport Stakeholders Forum, which brings together players in the industry to address challenges affecting the sector.

The forum will provide a platform for transport operators, police, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), road agencies and other stakeholders to discuss causes of road accidents and improve compliance among motorists.

Speaking during the meeting, Murang’a County Transporters chairperson Martin Kangangi identified speeding, reckless driving, poor road conditions and failure by some drivers to comply with safety requirements as major contributors to accidents.

“Very many accidents are caused by speeding. If you are driving at the right speed and you see something ahead, you can control the vehicle and stop, but we also have a problem with some of our drivers,” Kangangi said.

Kangangi, who is also chairperson of Murang’a Shuttle Sacco, urged Sacco officials to take greater responsibility for drivers under their management, particularly those found speeding or engaging in dangerous driving.

He claimed some drivers uninstall speed governors after leaving their respective bases, making it difficult for operators to enforce speed restrictions once vehicles are on the road.

Kangangi also called on road agencies to address accident blackspots, citing the Wanjii area and the Mathioya River bridge along the Murang’a-Thika road, where he said poor road conditions and dangerous bends posed risks to motorists.

He further urged the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) to intervene over what he described as delays and unfair treatment of matatu owners whose vehicles are involved in accidents.

According to Kangangi, some insurance companies delay compensation while vehicles impounded after accidents are sold by financial institutions before owners can resolve the matter, leaving operators to shoulder heavy financial losses.

“When an accident occurs, the insurance people do not pay. Vehicles are taken away and after seven days they can be sold. A vehicle worth Sh2 million can be sold for Sh400,000,” he claimed.

Boda boda operators also raised concerns over inadequate training and licensing, with stakeholders noting that many young people enter the sector after completing secondary school without sufficient knowledge of road safety regulations.

James Mwangi, a boda boda operator, argued that some motorcycle accidents could be prevented through better training and enforcement of licensing requirements.

He called on NTSA to organise training sessions for boda boda riders at their respective bases and facilitate licensing, noting that some riders operate without valid licences.

Lorry operators raised concerns over the deployment of mobile weighbridges, arguing that some are positioned at dangerous sections of roads and create additional risks for motorists.

Lorry operator George Kimani called for better coordination of weighing operations and urged agencies to conduct them at safe locations.

“At times you find them at Wanjii and it is a blackspot. Nobody driving a vehicle would stop at a blackspot, and when you fail to stop, they start racing after you and throw spikes at your vehicle,” Kimani said.

Kimani also challenged the county government to improve roads leading to quarries, saying their poor condition contributes to frequent damage to lorries, including broken springs and punctured tyres.

He further called for fairness during random vehicle inspections by NTSA, questioning why some vehicles are held for several days after being impounded instead of having their cases processed promptly.

Murang’a East Sub-County Police Commander Teresiah Kariuki said the forum was part of a wider initiative by the traffic command to bring transport stakeholders together across the country to address challenges affecting the sector.

Kariuki urged operators to ensure drivers have the necessary documents and comply with traffic regulations, while calling on employers to take responsibility for drivers and boda boda riders under their supervision.

She also warned against the use of boda bodas by politicians to cause chaos, urging operators to remain accountable and prevent the sector from being exploited for political violence.

Ends