The government has revealed that 15 people have lost their lives in the last two weeks even as it outlined tough measures to curb road carnage during the festive season.
On Tuesday, 17 people were killed in a horrific accident at Sachangwan on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway with the Traffic Police, the National Transport and Safety Authority and Kenya National High Ways Authority attibuting most of the mishaps to human error.
“Preliminary investigations attribute the causes of these crashes to risk factors such as over speeding (sic), lane indiscipline, reckless driving and drinking under the influnce of alcohol and other substances,” Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, NTSA Director General Francis Meja and KeNHA Director General Peter Mundinia said in a statement.
The trio noted that the stretch between Salgaa and Mau Summit has witnessed a significant number of crashes in the recent past, despite a number of interventions made.
KeNHA outlined various measures that would be undertaken in the short-term, mid-term and long-term to enhance road safety in the area.
The statement said KeNHA will install additional humps and rumble strips on the stretch to curb accidents, including road marking and signage under a perfomance based contract in the short-term.
In the mid-term, a tender for the enhancement of road safety along Kibunja-Salgaa section will be issued in a week’s time. The works to be carried out shall include construction of three emergence runway truck rumps and a lorry brakes temperature checking point at Kibunja.
The authority will also construct a dual carriageway at the 10-kilometre climbing lane section, widen the Nyanja/Kamara bridge, undertake road marking with reflective cat-eyes and signage and repair and install guardrails.
The government also plans to the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit section in the long term under a public private partnership contract.
“The procurement of the contractor (consortium) is ongoing. This will ensure that the entire road capacity and safety is improved,” the statement said.
On their part, the police and NTSA will beef up enforcement and patrol teams across the country hazardous zones.
These have been identified as Salgaa, Sachangwan, Soysambu and Migaa in Nakuru County; Bonje area in Kilifi County; Lukenya and Maanzoni in Machakos County; Kiima Kiu/Salama and Konza area in Makueni County; Ntulele and Duka Moja market centre in Narok County and Kenol to Sagana and Kenol to Muranga section in Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties.
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“We appeal to all road users to play their rightful role in enhancing road safety by adhering to traffic rules and speak out against reckless road use. Violations and complaints can be channeled to NTSA through the hotline 0718555999, National Police Service through toll free numbers 999/911 or directly to the nearest police officer,” the statement said.
“The festive season comes with increased travel and celebrations; we therefore urge all road users to exercise extra caution during this season. We remind the public that all law breakers will be dealt with in strict adherence to the law,” it added.
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