Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has been under fire over increasing cases of road accidents. Transport Cabinet Kipchumba Murkomen during a meeting with elected leaders from Nairobi. Road accidents deaths in Kenya in 2024 According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), at least 1,189 people died in road traffic accidents between January 1, 2024, and April 1, 2024. The number has significantly increased following several fatal accidents that occurred in the past and current weeks. On Monday, April 8, at least 14 people died in separate road traffic accidents along the Nakuru-Kericho highway (six deaths) and on Ngata Bridge along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway (eight deaths). Kipchumba Murkomebn speaks on road accidents Speaking during a meeting with members of the National Assembly and other leaders of Nairobi on Tuesday, April 9, Murkomen noted that deaths resulting from traffic accidents in many parts of the country, including the capital city, were worrying. “To avert road crashes in Nairobi and its environs, I directed the agencies involved to ensure all the busy roads in the county have clear markings and proper signage,” Murkomen said. The CS also called on road users, especially motorists, to observe traffic rules as part of their responsibility to reduce road carnage. “I called on motorists and pedestrians to observe traffic rules when using the roads,” said Murkomen who was accompanied by Principal Secretaries Joseph Mbugua (Roads) and Mohamed Daghar (Transport) alongside director generals from road agencies. Murkomen disclosed that his ministry was working with parliament and development partners to hasten the completion of pending road works in Nairobi. BRT system rollout in Nairobi He said that the meeting also addressed plans to speed up the rollout of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system as part of the government’s efforts to decongest Nairobi. He said the rollout of the BRT system would enhance the smooth movement of people within the larger Nairobi Metropolitan Area. “I held a consultative meeting with leaders from Nairobi county this morning to take stock of the state of the road and rail infrastructure and ongoing efforts to streamline the public transport sub-sector in the county,” the CS said. Members of the National Assembly who attended the meeting include Nairobi woman representative Esther Passaris, MPs Yusuf Hassan (Kamkunji), Timothy Wanyonyi (Westlands), Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North), George Aladwa (Makadara), James Gakuya (Embakasi North), Kamanda Mwafrika (Roysambu), Benjamin Gathiru (Embakasi Central), Ronald Karauri (Kasarani), Amos Mwago (Starehe), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), and Peter Ochieng (Kibra). The worrying number of accidents saw Kenyans call on each other to use the Idd ul-Fitr holidays to pray for injured accident survivors and bereaved families.
by Michael Ollinga Oruko
