Londiani accident: Murkomen wants all markets along road reserves relocated as he issues fresh orders

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ordered the removal of all markets along road reserves following the grisly road accident at Londiani Junction in Kericho County where 52 people lost their lives.

CS Murkomen issued the directive on Saturday, asking both the national and county governments to ensure markets are installed off the highways to avert similar scenarios.

He noted that most victims of the fatal Friday road crash where a Rwanda-bound truck transporting cement lost control and rammed into people, cars and motorcycles were trading on the roadside and thus road reserves should be kept open.

“Unfortunately, all the victims were trading on the roadside market and the others were boarding vehicles at the roadside car park,” he stated.

“All markets along the road reserve should be relocated. County governments in partnership with the national government through the intergovernmental framework should construct markets off the highways even as KeNHA constructs access roads to the markets.”

As part of the measures to curb road accidents, Murkomen ordered a review of speed limits in the area and the erection of bumps and signage.

He also directed the relevant agencies in his ministry including the National Safety and Transport Authority (NTSA) and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to install speed detection cameras in hotspot areas to help traffic officers in cracking down on road safety.

“NTSA to include the dangerous section as one of the spots to install speed detection cameras, especially in the upcoming pilot phase, to support the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations,’ he stated.

Consequently, NTSA was ordered to undertake the re-testing of PSV and commercial service vehicle drivers to guarantee competency before the renewal of driving licences, and at the same time intensify anti-drunk driving operations across the country.

The CS assured that the government, through his ministry, would hold consultative meetings with the East Africa Community (EAC) to guide on the harmonisation of motor vehicle inspection in the region.

Murkomen similarly called upon Transport Safety Committees in all 47 counties to immediately embark on road safety education and awareness programmes for traders, pedestrians, school children and bodaboda operators.

The Friday evening accident along the Kericho-Nakuru highway killed at least 51 people and left 32 hospitalised.