Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen heeded to an uproar from a section of motorists decrying dangerous bumps along the Southern Bypass in Nairobi.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretary revealed that he made an impromptu visit to the highway to assess the new bumps promising that 'I am on site, I will revert.'
Users of the highway lamented that crashes had increased since engineers from Kenya National Highways Authority put up the bumps in an exercise that kicked off on Tuesday from 2:00pm well into the night.
Reports indicate that three crashes have already been recorded along the stretch, some of which are feared to be fatal.
Motorists lamented that some of the bumps were raised too high impeding drivers efforts to control the vehicles. The motorists also faulted lack of proper road signage and indicators along the busy highway.
"If you intend to use the Southern Bypass, exercise caution observing low speed because huge bumps were raised overnight sending some vehicles off the road and hitting into each other. Accidents have occurred unfortunately some fatal," lamented a motorist.
"Whoever uses Southern Bypass be aware. Kenya's finest engineers decided to put bumps on the highway. Already three accidents have been recorded today, unfortunately fatal. Proceed with caution," cautioned Mutindi Mutua.
A source from KeNHA clarified to Kenyans.co.ke that in some instances, bumps are erected along highways in response to calls from the public.
Once erected, another section of differing road users emerge arguing that the bumps, either newly put up or refurbished, poses danger to motorists.
The Transport CS is on a mission to transform the Transport sector by delivering on infrastructure as well as streamlining services offered at various transport agencies.
Towards the end of September, he asked NTSA officers to clear the backlog of driving licenses and digital number plates.
Despite his efforts, however, road crashes have continued to increase with latest NTSA records showing that 2,124 people lost their lives in road carnages between January and June this year.
Incompetent and unfit drivers were blame for the increase in fatalities, a majority of whom were pedestrians at 571 followed by motorcycle operators with 449 casualties.
