Over 300 Nairobi pedestrians either spent the weekend behind bars or paid a fine of between Ksh500 and Ksh3,000 after they were arrested for crossing at undesignated points.
The lawbreakers were arrested on Friday, October 15, in a joint operation conducted by the Kenya Police and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) at Outer Ring footbridge in Pipeline, Nairobi.
KURA Director General Engineer Silas Kinoti noted that the area recorded the highest fatalities of road accidents involving pedestrians.
The director lamented that statistics indicate that 40 per cent of road accidents are pedestrian-related.
He cautioned residents from flouting traffic rules, adding that the entity had intensified its crackdown across the city.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) was also roped in to sensitise the public on traffic rules and public safety.
“One of the major reasons for accidents is that Kenyans are always in a rush and do not want to take a little effort to protect themselves,” Kinoti stated.
“This needless loss of lives on our roads is unacceptable. The footbridges are there to protect their lives,” he added.
To enhance the safety of pedestrians, the engineer added that KURA has been cleaning and repairing dilapidated footbridges to make them user friendly.
Kinoti further warned boda bodas riders from using footbridges to cross the highways. KURA is currently drafting motorcycle regulations to regulate riders activities.
They will further be required to wear helmets and reflective jackets and carry only one passenger at a time, apart from being barred from using footbridges.
