Horror statistics as Kenya loses 145 people in road accidents in last one week

Kenya has recorded a total of 15,924 road accidents between January 1 and September 26, 2022, the National Police Service has said.

Data released on Friday, September 30 indicates that 3,541 of the accident victims (22.2 per cent) died, 7,236 seriously injured (45.4 per cent) and 5,147 slightly injured (32.3 per cent).

In that period, 1,269 pedestrians died. Nine hundred and forty-one (941) were motorcyclists, passengers were 634, drivers (324), pillion passengers (324) and pedal cyclists (49).

The 3,541 fatalities recorded between January 1 and September 26, 2022 is an increase compared to the same period in 2021.

Last year, in the same period, accident-related deaths were 3,286, which was 255 fewer deaths compared to 2022.

Police attribute the high number of road accidents to speeding, poorly maintained vehicles, human error, shunning seatbelts and overloading.

The National Police Service expressed concern that in the last one week (September 18 to September 26), 145 people died in separate road accidents across the country.

To avert a further surge in the number of road accidents, police said they'll work with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to conduct random inspections on public service vehicles, boda bodas and personal vehicles.

Police spokesperson Bruno Shioso said in a statement on Friday that they'll focus on the drivers' licenses, PSV route compliance, PSV badge, PSV inspection sticker, speed compliance, lane discipline and passengers' use of seatbelts.

"Our roads can be unforgiving, and we have the responsibility to use them safely," said Shioso.