Road safety cannot be business as usual; CS Chirchir says on Mtito Andei crash

On Sunday, 7.45 am, a passenger bus belonging to Power of the Word Church International and a commercial truck collided at Kanga area in Mtito Andei, leading to 24 deaths so far.

The roads CS has extended condolences to affected families, terming repeated road accidents as “unacceptable”.

“Road crashes continue to claim innocent lives, destroy families, overwhelm our health system and undermine national economic productivity. We cannot continue treating road safety as business as usual,” Chirchir said in a statement on Sunday evening.

The CS further called for a decisive, coordinated and sustained action to tame road crashes that were claiming several lives.

As a result, the minister has proposed three road safety reforms focusing on infrastructural changes, traffic law enforcement and oversight.

The ministry, he said, would strengthen the black spot management programme to identify and address high-risk road sections. This is through targeted engineering interventions and other infrastructure improvements.

The transport department also intends to work with relevant government agencies to intensify enforcement against dangerous driving, reckless overtaking, speeding and other traffic violations. This while promoting responsible road-user behaviour.

“We will pursue structured training and compliance measures to strengthen driver competence, discipline and adherence to road safety requirements,” added Chirchir.

The ministry also plans to strengthen traffic regulations through engaging the Judiciary and Parliament to address implementation challenges relating to the Commercial Vehicle Regulations 2026, Vehicle Inspection Regulations 2026 and School Transport Regulations 2026.

On the other hand, President William Ruto has directed a thorough inspection of all public service vehicles to guarantee compliance with safety standards.

He further urged motorists, particularly those operating vehicles of mass transportation, to remain cautious on roads and protect lives.

"This is a painful and devastating loss for the families and for the nation. We share in your grief during this difficult time, and we pray for strength and comfort for the families. I also wish a quick recovery to all those who were injured," he said.