The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) released a report indicating an alarming spike in the number of pedestrian fatalities on Kenyan roads.
According to the report, there was an 8% jump in the total number of people who were killed in road accidents by September 2017 and the same period in 2018.
The report indicates that 2,214 road users had died by September 25, 2018, compared to 2,053 who died by the same date in 2017.
Kenya Police Traffic Commandant Samuel Kimaru indicated that a total of 2,345 people in total had died by October 3, 2018.
According to the survey, 358 motorcyclists lost their lives in 2017 compared to 424 in 2018 with the number of pillion passengers who lost their lives in 2017 being 172 compared to 182 in 2018.
230 drivers in 2017 died in accidents with five more lost in 2018 bring the total to 235 recorded deaths by October 3, 2018.
A similar difference of five was recorded for the number of passengers who died in the survey period. In 2017 528 deaths were recorded which dropped to 523 in 2018.
Pedestrians and innocent bystanders were the highest number of casualties recorded in 2018 at a whopping 889 compared to 790 the previous year.
A majority of accidents on Kenyan roads are attributed to careless driving where motorists flout traffic rules.
Riders have also been accused of causing accidents due to their laxity in ensuring safety during rides.
