NTSA partners with counties to combat rising road fatalities

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has moved to strengthen its collaboration with counties to curb the escalating number of road fatalities.

According to NTSA Director General George Njao, the partnership will see the establishment of County Transport and Safety Committees that will help address road safety and public transport concerns within the devolved units.

Speaking in Naivasha during a meeting with officials from Nakuru, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisumu, Makueni, Nairobi, and Siaya counties, Njao outlined key pillars for the counties, focusing on improving the lives of residents through enhanced accessibility, servicing pedestrian walkways, and promoting non-motorized services.

“We want to strengthen our relationships with counties in these committees so that we can be able to start addressing factors that are relating to fatalities of citizens on our roads at the county level, to help support the overall national of fatalities and injuries to persons,” said Njao.  

Further, he added that NTSA would coordinate activities by onboarding measures and interventions in the County Development Plans.

According to the NTSA boss, the authority's approach is not centred on penalizing traffic offenders but rather on proactive engagement and dissemination of critical information to resolve increased road fatalities.

He added that pedestrians and boda boda operators were the most vulnerable groups, noting that counties must seek to improve pedestrian walkways, clear markings and put up adequate signage.

“If you look at those two categories, especially when it comes to pedestrians, it requires certain accessibility requirements such as walkways, signage and markings of that nature that is why we are working with the counties that are present to see an overall reduction in those categories,” said Njao.

“With all these combined efforts with us and the county government, we shall start seeing a significant reduction in road fatalities across the country.”

Ibrahim Auma, Nairobi CEC for Transport lauded the collaboration, noted that it would help address common issues that have driven increased fatalities and injuries for road users.

He added that Nairobi County was undertaking the registration of boda boda operators and their respective Saccos to promote road discipline.

On his part, Kericho County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo expressed optimism about the enhanced collaboration through the committees, noting that over 70 per cent of road users were in rural areas and were critical in the reduction of fatalities.

He said National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) will help formulate necessary messaging in languages that are well understood by all road users towards a safe and reliable transport system to reduce fatalities.

Data from NTSA reveals that between January and December 2024, over 4,000 people lost their lives in road crashes where pedestrians accounted for a significant portion of these fatalities, with 1,600 deaths reported.