Pedestrian deaths remain top as road fatalities hit 3,056 in eight months
Pedestrians have recorded the highest number of deaths in road accidents since the start of the year, new data has revealed.
According to the latest data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), between January 1 and August 27, 2024, road accidents across the country have claimed at least 3,056 lives since the beginning of the year, an increase of 146 deaths compared to the 2,910 recorded in the same period in 2023.
“Since the year started 7,114 Kenyans have been involved in road accidents, marking an increase of 703 compared to last year, 3674 were seriously injured and 585 suffered from minor injuries,” NTSA said.
The NTSA data shows pedestrians continue to bear the brunt of road slaughter with a 15 percent increase to 1,177 compared to 1,044 who lost their lives by the same date last year.
Similarly, the number of passengers killed increased by 15 per cent, with at least 595 passengers losing their lives in road crashes, compared to 519 in 2023, and 262 drivers also lost their lives, a decrease of 260 compared to the same period last year.
The data, however, showed a slight decrease in deaths involving motorcyclists which stood at 710 compared to 756 recorded same period in 2023.
Pillion passengers recorded 259 deaths compared to 269 witnessed last year, while the number of pedal cyclists also decreased to 53 compared to 60 recorded last year.
Last year, more than 4,300 people were killed in road accidents while the rest – from the 22,885 that were involved in accidents, were left with life-changing injuries.
The latest data comes as the country witnesses a resurgence in fatal and serious injury road accidents across the country.
There are increasing reports of serious road accidents from across the country.
They include last week’s accident involving a bus and several other motor vehicles on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway.
The bus was reportedly involved in a collision with a stationary truck and a car before veering off the road, with a number of passengers injured and trapped in it.
This came on the heels of yet another bus accident on the same highway at Migaa near the notorious Salgaa black spot, in which 14 passengers were killed and 55 injured on Tuesday morning.
In another accident, two people were killed and more than 20 injured when a school bus and a truck collided on the Gitaru-Kikuyu road at an accident-prone spot.
On Sunday, five people were killed in an accident involving an oil tanker, a tractor and a pro-box vehicle on the Eldoret-Malaba highway, while two other passengers are said to have survived with serious injuries.
The accident involved an oil tanker heading for the Malaba border, a tractor carrying hardcore building materials and the Probox vehicle coming from Busia.
On Wednesday, a tragic road accident claimed two lives along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway and resulted in the write-off of a brand new Range Rover vehicle that was being delivered to its owner.
The accident occurred at about 7am on Tuesday at Maji ya Chumvi area, a blackspot on the highway in Mariakani.
NTSA estimates that 3,000 people die in road accidents every year, with many of the accidents occurring on weekends and public holidays.
The hours between 5pm and 8am are considered the peak time for accidents, with drink-driving and carelessness cited as some of the main causes of accidents.
hkimuyu@ke.nationmedia.com
