Ways You Are Likely to Die on Kenyan Roads - NTSA Report

National Transport Security Authority (NTSA) on Friday, October 4, released a report on the number of fatal accidents that have claimed lives since January 2019.

The worrying statistics showed an increase in the number of road accidents between the periods of January 1 to September 26.

The number of pedestrian deaths went up by 17.5% from 855 people in 2018 to 1,005 in 2019. Drivers’ fatalities also went up by 8.4% translating to an increase from 226 to 245 deaths.

The Eldoret Express bus that collided with a truck in Awasi on Friday, October 4. Photo: K24 Digital.

NTSA also noted in their report that accidents on motorcycles had increased from 411 and to 518. This was a 25.8% rise in the deaths recorded in the previous year.

Bicycle accidents were also registered on the list with a 26.8% rise from 41 recorded deaths in 2018 to 52 in 2019 over the same period.

Pillion passenger fatalities recorded the highest rise with a 34.8% increase to 248 from the 184 the previous year.

The total fatalities for 2019 as per the data showed a 16.8% increase in deaths reported comparing similar periods in 2019 to 2018. 2,591 deaths were recorded in the period compared to the 2,219 that had died the previous year.

The report follows the grisly accident that happened at Awasi area when an Eldoret Express bus ferrying passengers crashed head-on with a truck.

Reports confirmed that the bus driver was trying to avoid hitting a tractor carrying sugarcane when he collided with the track.

The bus and truck drivers died on the spot along with 11 passengers from the 51 that were heading towards Kericho Friday in the 1 a.m. Friday morning accident.

The accident brought back memories of the October 2018 accident in Fort Tenarn in Kericho County that claimed 56 lives, the highest number of fatalities ever recorded in the country.

Concerns were once again raised on the safety of night travel bringing into question the July 2017 ban that was later lifted by NTSA after transport complaints by transport stakeholders. 

NTSA officers on the road. Photo: Daily Nation.

 

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