Motorist Association of Kenya, an umbrella driver and vehicle owner advocacy body, on Monday, June 19, highlighted road malpractices that contributed to increased road accidents along Thika Road.
The lobby group lamented that Thika Road was slowly losing its standards due to the invasion of three-wheelers and boda-boda riders.
Specifically, the umbrella body explained that boda boda riders and tuk-tuks defied traffic rules by using the speeding and middle lanes, endangering other motorists in the process.
According to the MAK, speeding vehicles were at risk of crashing while overtaking the bikes and tuk-tuks.
"Thika Road is deteriorating at an alarming rate. The use of vehicles meant for the last mile is soiling the standards," the lobby group warned.
"Matatus move into the fast lanes, only to find out that they are trapped by a boda boda in the middle lane," it added.
The association called on the Ministry of Transport under Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to intervene and avert the issue before it becomes a full-blown crisis.
NTSA was also advised to extend its ongoing crackdown on the highways to protect other motorists. Murkomen, conversely, was asked to properly mark the highway designating lanes for boda boda and tuk-tuks.
Following a surge in road accidents, Transport CS announced a nationwide operation targeting motorists. In a joint operation with the Interior Ministry, the CS ordered drivers found floating traffic laws to re-take tests conducted by NTSA.
According to NTSA, more than 1,600 people died in road accidents since January 2023. Pedestrian fatalities reduced from 359 in 2022 to 330 in 2023, while pillion passenger fatalities decreased from 109 in 2022 to 93 in 2023.
Driver fatalities increased from 95 in 2022, to 98 in 2023, while passenger fatalities increased from 154 in 2022 to 171 in 2023.
