National authorities inspecting roads
James Macharia (right), the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, at Transcom House in Nairobi on December 20, 2016. With him are Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett (left) and David Too, the director of legal services at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the Kenya National Highways Authority and Kenya Urban Roads Authority were inspecting the roads.
He said the inspection, which mainly focuses on illegal bumps, should be complete in four weeks.
The CS said 90 per cent of accidents in Kenya are avoidable.
Roads countrywide are being inspected to identify infrastructure flaws that might cause accidents while in a surprise but long overdue move, motorists who drive slowly in a fast lane will now be arrested.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the Kenya National Highways Authority and Kenya Urban Roads Authority were inspecting the roads.
He said the inspection, which mainly focuses on illegal bumps, should be complete in four weeks.
The CS said 90 per cent of accidents in Kenya are avoidable.
“We are putting measures in place to address this. For instance, numerous illegal bumps that cause accidents have been erected,” he said.
The illegal and improperly erected bumps would be removed immediately.
The inspectors will also identify roads that are not properly marked or have missing signs and identify stretches to be barricaded to keep hawkers off the road.
On motorists who drive slowly in fast lanes, Mr Macharia said: “We will ask you how you got your driving licence. We shall ask the police and safety authority to flag down these drivers.”
Drivers are often arrested for exceeding the speed limit and not driving too slowly on highways.
At the same time Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet said he had reorganised traffic law enforcement.
“County commanders will be responsible for managing traffic in their areas without any reference to Nairobi,” he said.
The police boss also warned boda boda riders from breaking the rules, telling them: “You are not exempt from traffic laws.”
The two were speaking at the Transport ministry’s headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday.
National Transport and Safety Authority, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials and Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai were present.
The CS identified the leading causes of avoidable accidents as speeding, driving while drunk and careless road habits.
Over 3,000 people die in road accidents in Kenya every year, he said.
The fatalities usually increase during the festive season when the number of travellers shoots up.
