Road safety agency has failed to stop accidents, say senators
The wreckage of the car that was involved in the Salgaa accident on July 15 claiming lives of seven family members. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula said the famed ‘Michuki rules’ put in place by former Transport Minister John Michuki (late) were no longer being observed.
- Michuki rules came in place in February 2004.
- Latest major accidents were on July 15 at Salgaa in Nakuru and at Mai Mahiu in the same county where at least 16 travellers were killed, seven of them family members.
Senators have expressed doubts about the ability of the National Transport and Safety Authority to rein in road accidents that have claimed dozens of lives in the last one month.
The lawmakers on Wednesday said the four-year-old Authority was not doing enough to stop road carnage following a rise in the number of people killed recently.
They said most road users were no longer obeying traffic rules despite the Authority being set up to ensure safer roads for motorists and pedestrians.
Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma, Ford-Kenya) said the famed ‘Michuki rules’ put in place by former Transport Minister John Michuki (late) were no longer being observed despite helping reduce traffic-related deaths.
“What steps are being taken by the NTSA to secure our roads because we have noticed there have been many grisly road accidents all over the country and more particularly in Salgaa in Nakuru? What is it doing about the irresponsible drivers? People are being knocked down yet there is clear road signage,” said Mr Wetang’ula who also questioned the appointment of former Naivasha MP John Mututho.
Mr Mututho was recently appointed the Transport Licensing Appeals Board by the Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.
Michuki rules came in place in February 2004 and all public service vehicles were required to have safety belts, limit the number of passengers, observe a maximum speed limit of 80km/hr and crews to be on uniform among others.
CALLS FOR TOUGHER PENALTIES
More than 50 people have died in road accidents over the last three weeks, 15 of those were killed on June 30 alone according to figures released by NTSA.
The latest major accidents were on July 15 at Salgaa in Nakuru and at Mai Mahiu in the same county where at least 16 travellers were killed. Seven family members perished in the Salgaa one.
Senators said there were signs that road carnage was becoming uncontrollable, calling for tougher penalties for traffic offenders.
The lawmakers were making their contributions in the House.
“What measures have the authority put in place to ensure punitive penalties for those who misuse our roads? The major issue on the roads is indiscipline. There are drivers who use the roads with a lot of impunity. The matatu drivers drive with a lot recklessness. We need tougher penalties for those traffic offenders,” said Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe.
Roads Committee vice-chairperson Judith Sijeny (Nominated, Wiper), however, defended the authority saying it was doing everything possible to curb the carnage.
“The Michuki rules came in place when there were no motorcycles. Currently, most accidents are associated with the motorcyclists. The authority is developing rules and policies to help stop the accidents,” she told the House.
