All Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and trucks have been recalled for examination of speed governors fitted in them following a directive by the Speed Governors and Road Safety Association.
The association's chairman, Edward Gitonga, on Wednesday, July 20, noted that the directive follows increased cases of road cranages in the country.
Gitonga detailed that the resolution to recall all matatus and trucks followed a meeting between stakeholders who are looking at ways of reducing the number of accidents in the country.
"We have agreed that the vehicles we deal with, that is the PSV, trucks and all vehicles exceeding the set weight, we do a recall. They must go back to the vendors for verification and make sure that the speed governors are working, transmitting and limiting the speed," Gitonga stated.
While appealing to motorists to abide by the directive, Gitonga added that the speed governors fitted should meet the threshold set by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
"There is no speed governor that will operate on our roads below the threshold of what has been tested by KEBS. Therefore, we call upon PSV and truck owners and all vehicles that have been fitted with speed governors to go back to the vendors across the country."
The data from National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shows that 1,912 people have died in road accidents since January 1 this year.
The data represented a nine per cent increase from 1,754 in 2021. Pedestrians accounted for the highest number of fatalities.
NTSA started rolling out new regulations across the country after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law the amended Traffic Act.
According to the law, the driving license of a person convicted of violating a speed limit shall be suspended for a period not less than three years.
However, if a motorist violates the speed limit more than three times, one is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than three months, or a fine of not less than Ksh20,000, or both.
The meeting also addressed design flaws on 95 road spots earmarked as blackspots in the country.
Speed Governors and Road Safety Association stated that they are collaborating with Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to find a lasting solution to the increasing road carnages.
