Mutyambai has ordered a crackdown on unsafe automobiles to curb road accidents

 Mutyambai has ordered a crackdown on unsafe automobiles to curb road accidents

According to Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso, the action is motivated by a recent surge in accidents around the country.

“The directive is effective immediately,” Shioso said on Wednesday.

He cited a recent collision between a Nairobi-bound bus transporting passengers from Garissa and a saloon car on Thika Mwingi Road, which killed seven passengers and injured five more.

To reduce the number of accidents, the police spokesperson urged motorists and other road users to practice caution while on the road.

“It is regrettable that most crashes are a result of human-related factors. Motorists and other road users are therefore reminded to remain vigilant, cautious, and responsible whilst in charge of a motor vehicle, or whenever using a public road as pedestrians,” he said.

Shioso urged motorists and other road users to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies at the national and county levels towards achieving the objectives of this initiative.

He also called on the non-compliant vehicles to keep off public roads to avoid any inconvenience to passengers.

This move comes after a recent data from NTSA revealed that Kenya recorded 1,968 deaths as of June this year against 1,800 lives lost last year during the same period, the National Transport and Safety Authority has said.

This number translates to 9.3 per cent increase which is replicated under other categories of serious and slight injuries.

According to NTSA, this year’s fatalities include 622 pedestrians, 545 motorcyclists, 322 passengers, and 192 pillion passengers.

181 drivers and 29 pedal-cyclists also lost their lives in the last six months.

In 2020, NTSA recorded 2,689 deaths between January and September as a result of road accidents