Roundup: Kenya's rising toll of road carnage dampens festive mood

by Christine Lagat

NAIROBI, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has in the last few days grappled with an unprecedented spike in road accidents that have claimed dozens of lives while putting ice on the festive season whose hallmark is merry-making and reunion.

The east African Nation is still reeling from the effects of carnage on major highways that have been blamed on reckless driving, lethargic policing and ignorance among commuters.

So far, more than 150 people have perished through road accidents in Kenya in the last fortnight, triggering a heated debate on who is to blame.

The busy highway connecting Kenya's capital Nairobi to western parts of the country has been the epicenter of accidents that have claimed 34 people including six artists in the past week.

During the 54th Independence Day celebrations on Dec. 12, 17 people, including members of the same family, died when 13 vehicles were involved in a head-on collision.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, in his address to the nation during Independence Day celebrations, urged motorists to exercise caution during the festive season and promised tough action from the state in order to reduce fatalities on the roads.

Over the past weekend, Kenya recorded 23 deaths as a result of road accidents that occurred in different parts of the country.

Policymakers, experts and industry players are united in their call for improved traffic management through enforcement of laws, commuter education, retraining of drivers in order to reduce carnage on the highways.

Francis Meja, the director general of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), blamed speeding, drunk driving and poor signage as some of the leading causes of accidents.

Speaking during a live television interview over the weekend, Meja said the transport regulator has come up with a code of conduct that every motorist and pedestrian should follow in order to prevent accidents along major highways.

"We are concerned by the rising toll of deaths on our highways that is mostly attributed to human error and have come up with new and more stringent regulations to help deal with this challenge," said Meja.

Kenya records an average of 3,000 deaths from road accidents every year despite investments in robust campaigns and existence of progressive traffic rules.

Meja clarified that the transport regulator has invested heavily in patrol cars, personnel and digital cameras to help nab and prosecute motorists flouting traffic rules.

"On our part, we are committed to enforce traffic rules to the letter but sections of public service vehicle owners have undermined efforts to restore sanity on the roads by employing untrained drivers," Meja said.

The recent spike in road accidents has triggered an outcry from Kenyans while re-igniting new debate on viable measures that should be adapted.

Joe Otin, a Nairobi-based digital marketing professional, challenged the transport regulator to invest in digital technology and public awareness targeting motorists and pedestrians.

Meanwhile, the country's lawmakers have intensified the call for redesigning major highways with dangerous "black spots."

Susan Kihika, the senator for Nakuru County, which has borne the brunt of the recent carnage on the roads, said construction of a dual carriage way at the "black spots" or redesigning of highways could be a giant step in the quest to reduce fatal accidents. Enditem