Road accidents are the 3rd leading cause of death after malaria and HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Unfortunately, even with the recent road improvements, fatal road accidents continue, begging the question, what are the causes? Most dangerous roads in Kenya In a report by Capital FM, the National Transport and Safety Authority revealed that road accidents claimed around 3,369 lives during the first nine months of 2024. Among them, 1,281 were pedestrians, 825 were motorcyclists, 654 were passengers, and 281 were drivers. The figure was a slight increase compared to the same period the previous year, where 3,151 people perished. Speaking about the report, the Acting Inspector General of Police expressed concern over rising road injuries and deaths. He urged the public to adhere to traffic rules and regulations to curb these accidents.
He also urged the authorities to be more vigilant nationwide, focusing on the most dangerous roads. But which roads in Kenya have the highest accident rates, and why? Here is a look at the deadliest roads in Kenya: Kiambu What is the most dangerous road in Kenya? Thika Superhighway is the most dangerous road in Kenya. The road recorded 99 fatal crashes in 2022 and more than 183 in 2023. Machakos The number of road injuries and deaths yearly shows that Machakos is a dangerous Kenyan road. In 2023, it recorded 141 deaths. Nakuru What are the highways of death in Kenya? The Nairobi-Naivasha-Nakuru highway is one of the most dangerous roads in Kenya. In 2022, 82 fatal crashes occurred along the Nairobi Naivasha highway. The lack of dual carriageways, proper vision, and road signs led to most of the accidents on this highway.
Other deadliest road accidents in Kenya occurred on the following roads: Outer ring road – 44 accidents Waiyaki Way – 34 fatalities Mombasa Road and Northern Bypass – 29 cases each Southern Bypass – 28 accidents Eastern Bypass – 27 cases Kangundo Road – 23 fatalities Ngong Road – 22 deaths Sections of Thika Road – 16 cases Matatus, buses, and personal vehicles along the Thika superhighway. Photo: @ThikaRoadke Source: Twitter Jogoo Road and Juja Road – 14 fatalities Lunga Lunga Road and Airport North Road – 13 cases Limuru Road and Naivasha Road – 5 fatalities Enterprise, Haile Selassie, Landhies, Lusaka and Wangari Mathai roads – Four deaths each Why are Kenyan roads one of the most dangerous in Africa? The World Health Organization cites multiple factors, including the lack of implementation of road safety laws, low infrastructure standards, and driver behaviour (over-speeding, under-speeding, and reckless overtaking), as some of the contributors to Kenya’s roads being among the worst in Africa.
While the rates of road deaths and injuries are reducing in other countries, they have been on the rise in Africa and Kenya in particular. Causes of road accidents in Kenya and how they can be avoided In an exclusive interview with Tuko.co.ke, NTSA Director General George Njao mentioned that accidents are majorly caused by over-speeding, crossing at undesignated places, distracted driving or walking, and drunk driving. The accidents are mostly attributed to over-speeding, crossing at undesignated places, distracted driving or walking, and drunk driving. We also have mental issues, depression and fatigue contributing to road accidents. Pedestrians are the most affected with statistics showing a 15% rise, from 1, 044 in 2023 to 1, 177 in 2024 (January to August) Despite the rapid increase in new technologies such as adaptive headlights, backup cameras, and forward collision systems, car accidents are on the rise in Kenya. But what is the main cause of accidents in Kenya? These include:
Distracted driving Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents in Kenya. Some of the innocuous activities that cause road accidents include: Drinking or eating while driving Use of mobile phones Interacting with the car’s music system Attempting to get an item from a storage compartment Attempting to remove an insect from a vehicle Looking at a passenger while holding a conversation Distractions caused by young kids or pets in the car Safety measure To avoid accidents caused by distracted driving, the driver should always keep his eyes on the road. Kenyan police officer doin a road check on motor vehicles. Speeding Speeding is one of the major causes of road accidents in Kenya. The faster a person drives, the slower their reaction time when they need to prevent a car accident. While people view speeding as driving above the limit, it also entails driving below it. Collisions that occur when driving at low speeds can be fatal to cyclists and pedestrians.
To avoid over and under-speeding related accidents, drivers ought to: Reduce speed when negotiating corners Reduce the speed in poor weather conditions Increase visibility by turning on hazard lights and headlights in bad weather conditions Reduce speed at night and in twilight conditions Reduce speed in places with pedestrians Stay within the recommended speed limit Drunk driving Driving under the influence is one of Kenya’s leading causes of road accidents. Although different players create awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, many drivers still opt to take the risk and drive while intoxicated. When a person drives when they are intoxicated, the alcohol affects their muscle control, reflexes, coordination, and mood by making them more impulsive. High levels of alcohol in the blood system significantly impact the driver’s eyesight by: Reducing their sensitivity to light Blurring their vision Causing colour impairment Changing their depth perception
Accidents caused by drunk driving can be prevented by simply avoiding driving when one is under the influence. If you go out and drink, it is always advisable to use a designated driver. Alternatively, you can go home by taxi or wait to travel the next day. Ignoring traffic rules and regulations A reckless matatu driver performing risky stunts on the road. Most accidents on Kenyan roads are caused by reckless driving. Some drivers may cause needless car accidents when they ignore traffic rules and regulations. Reckless drivers are always impatient in traffic, making them drive aggressively. Safety measures Some of the safety measures the drivers can use to avoid these accidents include: Avoid switching lanes too quickly Regarding the safety and properties of other people on the road Abiding by the cautionary measures on the roads Fatigue Drowsy driving is another leading cause of accidents on Kenyan roads. It is also more dangerous than driving under the influence since driving while fatigued is harder for the authorities to detect.
It becomes more dangerous because most drivers are not aware of how badly fatigued they are until something happens. Some of the adverse impacts of driving while fatigued include: Impaired ability to make decisions Impaired reaction time Creating periods of micro-sleeps that can last a few seconds Safety measures Even though there is a technology to detect fatigued driving, it is not a standard feature in all cars, and therefore, it can’t be relied on to detect fatigued drivers. Some of the best ways to avoid becoming a casualty of an accident caused by fatigued driving is using the following ways: Taking 10-15 minutes, stop every two hours whenever you are going on a long trip. If your fatigue is low to moderate, consume caffeinated beverages. When you feel sleepy, stop the car at a designated area and nap to relieve fatigue and improve your overall alertness.
Worst road accidents in Kenya
The most fatal crashes in Kenya involve buses and matatus. 38% of deaths on the roads are made up of passengers. Here is a look at some of the worst car crashes in Kenya’s history: Salgaa accident A tragic accident at the notorious Salgaa stretch along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway. In December 2017, 34 people died in a grisly road crash that took place in Salgaa, one of the most notorious blackspots in Kenya, when the bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a trailer. Twenty-eight of them lost their lives on the spot, while six others died while undergoing treatment at a nearby county hospital. The tragic accident occurred around 3:30 am. The bus ferrying individuals had faulty brakes when it rammed into the trailer. After the accident, the Kenya Red Cross shared a message on Twitter stating: Our ambulance teams responded to the scene and evacuated 18 casualties to Molo and Nakuru hospitals. The accident involved a lorry and a bus. More rescue efforts continue.
In November 2023, Ms Esther Nekesa’s journey to join her husband in Nairobi was cut short after she was involved in a grisly road accident in the Ngata area along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway. She boarded the 11-seater matatu registered under the Farasi Sacco with her two children, a six-month-old son and a six-year-old daughter, not knowing what lay ahead. Unfortunately, the ill-fated car collided head-on with a lorry. Witnesses at the accident scene revealed that the lorry lost control before veering off its lane and colliding with the matatu. Eight people died on the spot, including Nekesa’s son, while another three died while being rushed to the hospital. Ms Nekesa suffered broken limbs. She was asleep during the journey and only woke up after the accident, stating: I cannot tell what happened. I don’t even know the speed at which the matatu was moving as I was deeply asleep during the long journey.
Some of the other worst accidents in Kenya’s history include: 2018 Fort Ternan crash in Kericho which killed 50 people. 2013 Ntulele accident where 41 died on the spot, and 33 were taken to nearby hospitals. 2009 Sachang’wan accident where villagers were siphoning a petrol tanker. 91 people were burnt beyond recognition, while 22 succumbed to burns as they underwent treatment. 2000 Shaggy and Akamba accident where 75 people perished after the two buses collided and one of them exploded. 1991 Muranga accident where the driver lost control of a bus and slammed into a tree, killing 39 on the spot, nine while in hospital and leaving 40 seriously injured. 1989 Machakos accident where the bus plunged into Thwake river, killing 55 people on the spot. 1963 Machakos accident where a bus plunged into Tiva River, killing 72 people, including pedestrians. 1992 Machakos accident where 96 people died in a tragic road accident at Mikuyuni River in Machakos in the worst car crash in history during the 20th century.
by Gladys Mokeira Obiero Masolo Mabonga
