845 pedestrians killed in road crashes since January, NTSA says

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users in Kenya, a report released by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shows.

Statistics released by the NTSA show that 845 pedestrians were killed between January and August out of the total 1,971 deaths reported.

In that period, 456 passengers and 222 drivers were killed on the roads.

The report, however, shows the number of pedestrians killed had declined compared with the same period last year, when 867 deaths were reported.

The report also shows a 4.7 per cent increase in the total number of deaths caused by road crashes this year.

In the first eight months of 2014, 1,882 deaths were reported while 1,971 fatalities were recorded this year.

Traffic Commandant Charlton Muriithi has blamed the high number of pedestrians killed on the roads to behaviours that expose them to dangers.

“There are designated footbridges and zebra crossings but people do not want to use them. We try our best to force them to use them but old habits die hard.

“In most cases, the hit-and-run accidents happen at night and most of these people die due to lack of quick medical attention,” he said.

The traffic commandant blamed drunken driving and speeding for the high number of drivers killed in road crashes.

“There are issues of national indiscipline. Even when we try to arrest drunk drivers, people set up AlcoBlow watch groups to alert them of operations,” said Mr Muriithi