The government is taking aggressive steps to address the national crisis of deadly road accidents.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced a multi-pronged approach, prioritizing strict enforcement of traffic laws outlined in Section 69 of the Traffic Act, during a meeting with the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.

"Traffic accidents are a National catastrophe that must be dealt with as a priority," stated CS Kindiki.

The alarming statistics paint a grim picture. 2022 saw 4,650 fatalities on Kenyan roads, with the numbers dropping slightly in 2023 at 3,900 deaths.

The first two months of 2024 alone have witnessed 1,926 crashes, claiming 763 lives.

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The Kenya Police Traffic Department, in collaboration with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), is already taking action.

Planned and impromptu operations targeting vehicles violating the Highway Code have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of 22,958 drivers between January and February 2024.

These efforts have generated Sh300 Million in fines and forfeitures.

Drunk driving is a major culprit, with 1,086 arrests made in the first two months of the year. Motorcycle-related accidents are another area of concern, with 255 deaths recorded and 5,590 motorcyclists apprehended during the same period.

Authorities have also impounded 6,692 motorcycles violating regulations.

The government is taking a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal public service vehicles.

A recent nationwide operation netted over 500 operators running personal vehicles without proper licensing.

Looking ahead, the strategy includes retesting drivers, utilizing digital media for road safety campaigns, and addressing road design flaws.

Additionally, the authorities plan to install signage, footbridges, speed cameras, rumble strips, and upgrade existing equipment for better enforcement against speeding and drunk driving.

"Corruption on the roads and other spheres of the society is no longer a social, moral and legal issue but a National security threat," declared CS Kindiki. Both traffic police officers soliciting bribes and motorists attempting to buy their way out of trouble will face severe penalties.

These comprehensive measures aim to significantly improve road safety in Kenya and reduce the devastating number of traffic accidents.