The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has joined forces with Bloomberg Philanthropies, an organisation founded by American billionaire Michael Bloomberg, in a project aimed at saving Kenyan lives.
In a special launch held on Wednesday, May 25, the authority announced that the new initiative was aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries from road traffic crash across the country.
This is to be achieved through the strengthening of laws, policies and actions that are proven to save lives by the two partners in conjunction with the Ministry of Health as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).
“No deaths on our roads are ever acceptable, and road traffic crashes are a pressing public health issue that we are working hard to urgently resolve.
"The work with WHO and partners through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety will be key to supporting our efforts to save lives and push forward progress,” noted Agnes Odhiambo, the NTSA Board Chairperson.
The partner organisations met to define how the initiative could best support the New Road Safety Plan even as the country readies a new National Road Safety Action Plan that aims to halve deaths from road crashes by 2030.
The launch marked the entry of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety in Kenya.
WHO Representative in Kenya, Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, on his part, noted that stepping up road safety would prevent the continued loss of human life on the road.
“Road crash deaths are a crisis that hides in plain sight. Stepping up action on road safety is vital, as, on top of the tragic human toll - road safety touches on all our lives each day - including getting to work and to school.
"By strengthening laws, practices and bringing partners together, the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative is key to saving lives,” he explained.
According to NTSA statistics, Kenya recorded 4,579 fatalities as a result of road traffic crashes with tens of thousands more seriously injured in a period of 12 months by the end of 2021.
Between January 1 and May 22, 2022, a total of 1,816 fatalities have been recorded showing an increase of 9.2 per cent compared to a similar period in the year 2021.
The US charity organisation encompasses all of Michael Bloomberg’s giving which includes his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy among others.
The billionaire has committed most of his profits from his empire to support the work of Bloomberg Philanthropies which has roots in more than 941 cities and 173 countries.
“There is a growing movement of big cities and small towns that are striving to use data to improve the performance of government and the lives of their citizens," Bloomberg described his charity work.
The US billionaire ran for President in 2020 but lost the race for the Democratic Party ticket to current President Joe Biden.
